MALLEE communities are used to coping with droughts.
When they end, communities are revived and life is much better.
A drought of a football kind ended on Saturday when the Lalbert-based reserves won their first premiership in 21 years.
The small town club’s B Grade netballers also triumphed with a fine performance against Swan Hill.
The Mallee Eagles’ A Reserve Grade netballers failed to make it a treble.
The reserves footballers overcame a sluggish start against Nyah-Nyah West United to edge ahead in the last term and end as champions by 17 points.
The Demons won their last premiership 22 years ago, so both had an extra incentive to break through.
Nyah-Nyah West United had the aid of a stiff breeze and ended the first term 25 points ahead. The Eagles emulated their opponents’ effort in the second with five goals to one.
While the skill level in the seconds is diminished somewhat, it was an entertaining game. The Demons made the most of limited scoring opportunities after quarter time and it wasn’t till the latter stages of the game when the Eagles edged ahead despite a swag of minor scores.
League leading goalkicker Sean Bedggood added four to his tally to finish with 58 and Lee O’Meara was their best player.
The B Grade netballers had too much fire-power for the Swans and kept their composure in a tense last quarter to win by eight goals.
Goal shooter Jessica Gaut scored 21 goals and goal attack Deborah Parsons 25.
Goal defence Louise Vague was named best player on the court.
Other players were wing attack Emma Brown, centre Ellie Middleton, wing defence Jessica Worner, goal keeper Jodi O’Meara and reserves Christine O’Meara, Ange McGowan and Maree Kingwill.
The Eagles’ A Reserve team suffered a 28-goal defeat at the hands of Swan Hill. Goal keeper Deanne Wiseman was the Eagles’ best and goal shooter Jorja McDonald scored 24 goals.
Other Eagles players were goal attack Megan Howard, wing attack Pheobe Bett, centre Alicia Harvey, wing defence Ebonee Gurnett, goal defence Emily Cook and reserves Romaney Kennedy, Abbie Duffy, Ellie Middleton, Louisa Vague and Deborah Parsons.
The Lalbert club’s senior football team was the only side to inflict defeat on the eventual premiers, Kerang, but bowed out after losing both the qualifying and first semi-finals.
