Strikers at home to play Cougars

BENDIGO Strikers will be aiming to draw another sell-out crowd for their Victorian Netball League home games against Geelong Cougars on May 19 at Red Energy Arena.

It’s a clash of country-based rivals in the 12th of 22 rounds as Bendigo and Geelong clash in the championship and 23-under matches.

Action starts at 1pm when the Jayden Cowling-coached Strikers 23-under team takes to the court in West Bendigo.

From 2.15pm it will be the championship line-up coached by Tracey Brereton vying for the four premiership points.

Warriors and Hawks will also play at Red Energy Arena.

Tickets available on the REA website or through Ticketek.

Although beaten, the Strikers players, coaches and officials were rapt with a sell-out crowd for the club’s first home games played on April 28 against Boroondara Express.

The Strikers lead-up to facing the Cougars included the May 8 clash with Hawks Netball, and the May 15 showdown with North East Blaze at the State Netball Centre.

There’s plenty happening on the representative front for the Strikers.

After playing a key role in Victoria’s rush to gold in the open final at the National Men’s Netball titles, Jayden Cowling is in the running to make the Australian Kelpies team.

Cowling and Strikers training partner Will Whiteacre will be on court at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from May 22 to 26.

Another of the Strikers’ rising stars, Ollie Ryan was in Sydney for last weekend’s try-outs with the Australian 17-and-under boys team.

An outstanding nationals for the mid-court ace was capped with a gold medal.

The talented teen was the March recipient of a scholarship in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.

Team-mates in the Strikers 23-and-under team, Harriet Gall and Mackenzie O’Dwyer are in national squads at 19-under and 17-under level respectively.