By Christopher Kourtis.
It’s finals time across all nine divisions in this 2023 Bendigo Bank Netball season. Divisions 1-4 played out their semi finals, while Divisions 5-9 played out their final match before the grand final. Take a look at how each team went this weekend.
Division One
East Burwood Black (68) def. Vermont Eagles Gold (44)
Croydon (50) lost to East Ringwood Black (51)
Division One had it all in the Semi Finals.
East Burwood Black took home a comfortable victory in Semi Final 1, ending Vermont Eagles Gold’s season. East Burwood scored 22 points in the third quarter, setting up their 24 point victory. Ella Tweedale ran the offence again, scoring 40 points for East Burwood Black.
East Ringwood Black played out a nailbiter against first place Croydon, winning by just one point. The game was closely-fought throughout – the biggest deficit at any break was two points.
Croydon will now face East Burwood Black in the Preliminary Final, where the winner will earn a spot in the Grand Final alongside East Ringwood Black.
Division Two
East Ringwood Blue (34) lost to Knox Falcons (38)
Coldstream Black (30) lost to Oakleigh District White (34)
The lowest-seeded teams won both Semi Finals in Division Two.
In Semi Final 1, the Knox Falcons got the best of The Basin Cubs, winning by four points. There were different leaders at each break, but Knox were in the lead when it mattered, ending East Ringwood Blue’s season.
Oakleigh District White also picked up a four point victory in Semi Final 2. The two teams were evenly matched in all areas. Jessica Foord scored 25 points for Coldstream, whilst Sophie Tanner scored 26 points for Oakleigh District. In the end, a slow start to the match cost Coldstream.
Coldstream Black will now face the Knox Falcons in the Preliminary Final, where the winner will earn a shot in the Grand Final against Oakleigh District White.
Division Three
The Basin Cubs (27) def. Vermont Eagles White (21)
Heathmont White (47) def. Lilydale Gold (32)
Division Three saw both favourites win.
The Basin Cubs won Semi Final 1 by six points. The Cubs ran away with the game in the fourth quarter, ending Vermont’s season.
Heathmont White showed why they finished first in the regular season, beating Lilydale by fifteen points. Heathmont scored big in quarters two and four, propelling them to victory. Lilydale were outscored by Heathmont’s Paige Hunter, who scored 36 points.
Lilydale Gold will now face The Basin Cubs in the Preliminary Final, where the winner will earn a chance in the Grand Final against Heathmont White.
Division Four
Oakleigh District Black (28) lost to Kilsyth Cougars Black (33)
Vermont Eagles Purple (29) lost to Montrose Flames (33)
Division Four saw both lower-seeded teams emerge victorious.
Kilsyth Cougars Black picked up a five point win in Semi Final 1. Leading at all breaks, Kilsyth had four separate scorers. This was too much for Oakleigh District, who saw their season come to an end.
The Montrose Flames proved to be too much for Vermont Eagles Purple to handle. Montrose built on a one point lead going into the fourth quarter, with Stephanie Verhoef’s 26 point outing guiding the Flames to victory.
Vermont Eagles Purple will meet Kilsyth Cougars Black in the Preliminary Final, where the Montrose Flames will wait for the winner in the Grand Final.
Division Five
Silvan Cats Blue (38) def. Park Orchards Red (36)
Division Five’s Preliminary Final was nothing short of a spectacle.
Both teams controlled the game at separate times. Park Orchards won the second quarter 6-14, before Silvan responded with a 12-4 third quarter of their own. In the end, Jessica Black’s 32 points weren’t enough to lift Park Orchards over the line, falling two points short.
Vermont Eagles Lilac will face Silvan Cats Blue in the Grand Final.
Division Six
Chirnside Park Panthers (39) def. East Ringwood White (32)
Chirnside Park Panthers picked up a seven point win in the Division Six Preliminary Final.
After being tied at quarter time, Chirnside Park lead at all breaks. Tayla Ferguson secured the win for the Panthers, outscoring East Ringwood with 34 points.
GWH Yellow will take on the Chirnside Park Panthers in the Grand Final.
Division Seven
Waverley Blues Red (32) def. Coldstream Blue (22)
Waverley Blues Red played out a routine win in the Preliminary Final.
Waverley won the second half 19-8, setting up a ten point victory and booking their place in the Grand Final.
The Montrose Thunder await Waverley Blues Red in the Grand Final.
Division Eight
The Basin Grizzlies (22) lost to Waverley Blues Blue (24)
Division Eight hosted a very close Preliminary Final which saw The Basin Grizzlies bow out of the finals in straight sets.
Despite leading at all breaks, the Waverley Blues only won by two points. There was nearly nothing to separate the two sides, but The Basin’s two point first quarter came back to haunt them in the end.
The Montrose Storm will play against Waverley Blues Blue in the Grand Final.
Division Nine
Montrose Heat (17) lost to Chirnside Park Panthers Black (27)
Division Nine also saw the highest-seeded team fail to pick up a win in the finals.
Chirnside Park recorded four different scorers in the Preliminary Final, which was too much for a Montrose Heat side which only managed one point in the second quarter.
Norwood Gold will face Chirnside Park Panthers Black in the Grand Final.
