By Wil Spence
There’s plenty of chatter as we enter the final week(s) of the Bendigo Bank Women’s Netball Competition. We saw plenty of close encounters, a few surprises up sets and potential finals like previews. Strap yourselves in because with finals right around the corner, the only place you can find all the action for your team is here!
Section 1
East Burwood Rams 55 def Ferntree Gully 46
Heartbreak for Ferntree Gully against East Burwood Rams as they came close to winning their first match for the season was subsequently washed away. The Rams put on a scoring clinic in the final quarter scoring 21 goals to run out nine goal winners. With this win, East Burwood have put themselves in a position to snatch the last spot in finals off Lilydale with a win next week.
Rylee Hamilton scored 40 goals for the East Burwood Rams while Chloe Bell scored 27 for Ferntree Gully in her second outing for the season. Lilydale play Heathmont and a win will gift them the final spot in finals. East Burwood Rams come up against Knox who also are sitting on seven wins and eight losses. The equation is simple whichever team wins out of this match-up, provided that Lilydale Falcons lose to Heathmont Jets is into finals. What a cracking final week of netball to come up!
East Burwood Black 66 def Knox 45
Lilydale 54 def by Croydon 72
East Ringwood 69 def Heathmont 54
Section 2
Croydon North MLOC 34 def Scoresby 30
A game that went down to the wire was great to watch for the neutral. For Scoresby supporters, heartbreak was at the end of the story. Heading into the final quarter with scores level, the Magpies gave themselves every chance to win, but Croydon North MLOC were too good, locking in their spot in finals. For the Magpies, some luck will be needed to play finals with the equation simple, win against Vermont and hope The Basin lose their match against Croydon North MLOC.
Warrandyte 26 def Kilsyth 25
Vermont 52 def Oakleigh Districts 19
Coldstream 35 def The Basin 21
Section 3
Vermont 21 def by Lilydale 28
A must win game for Vermont to jump into third position on the ladder was stalled by the presence of top hope Lilydale. Vermont put up a great fight leading at half-time by one goal and trailing by one goal heading into the last quarter, but the experience and of Lilydale proved too strong outscoring Vermont by 6 goals in the final quarter. Zoe Abbruzzese was her consistent self, scoring 19 goals for Lilydale. While Grace Hartman can hold her head high scoring 20 goals for Vermont.
Montrose 21 def by East Ringwood 28
East Burwood 20 def by Mulgrave 34
The Basin 44 def Glen Waverley 24
Kilsyth 34 def Whitehorse 23
Section 4
Montrose 28 def Heathmont 25
A potential finals match was on the cards between these two and it definitely lived up to expectations on Friday night. Montrose led at every change however by only a single goal at half-time and three-quarter time. Heathmont wouldn’t go away and almost snatched victory in the final quarter, but the poise of Montrose was too strong all-round the court. Stephanie Verhoef contributed 20 goals for Montrose while Alexandra Pattison scored 18 of her own for Heathmont.
Ferntree Gully 15 def by East Burwood 30
Park Orchards 42 def Glen Waverley 20
Boronia 37 def Silvan 30
Nunawading 39 def Mulgrave 23
Section 5
Upper Ferntree Gully Blue 25 def Balwyn 24
In a potential preview of what’s to come in finals. Upper Ferntree Gully Blue came out on top in scintillating match against Balwyn. Countless momentum swings ensured the match would go down to the wire, with Upper Ferntree Gully Blue holding a five-goal buffer heading into the final quarter, before holding on to score a tight win. Upper Ferntree Gully Blue duo Leesa Meldrum and Nikeisha Grant scored 14 and 11 goals respectively.
Knox 25 def Coldstream Black 23
Vermont 37 def Coldstream Red 21
Scoresby 23 def by Ringwood 37
Chirnside Park 41 def Upper Ferntree Gully Red 24
Section 6
Ringwood 24 def by Montrose 26
The upset of the round in section six, with Ringwood coming in as the hot favourites getting off to a slow start that was ultimately their downfall. With the top four safe and sound, a win for Ringwood would’ve given them third position on the ladder. Montrose were brave all night with Samantha Prosenak the star in front of goals with 17. Sitting sixth on the ladder with one remaining match, some momentum into next season is vital.
Glen Waverley 20 def by Coldstream 39
Boronia 40 def East Ringwood 15
South Croydon 21 def Kilsyth 17
Mitcham 31 def Heathmont 17
Section 7
Coldstream 24 def by Heathmont 27
Coldstream Blue lost no admirers over the weekend after their brave fight against section seven’s favourites, Heathmont. Trailing by one goal, Coldstream had their chances in the final quarter to snatch victory and hand Heathmont their second loss of the season, but it was not meant to be. Ladder positioning is pretty settled at the top, but a win for Coldstream could’ve catapulted them past Montrose Storm into third position on the ladder with one game remaining in the season.
Heathmont’s Skylar Browne was magnificent with 19 goals.
Waverley Blues 28 def Montrose Thunder 25
Kilsyth 27 def South Belgrave 24
Section 8
Mulgrave 36 def by Scoresby 47
Coming in as the underdogs in terms of ladder positioning, the Magpies were slow out of the blocks trailing Mulgrave by 9 goals at quarter time. From then on, an avalanche of goals was to come from Scoresby in a shock to everyone in attendance and most certainly Mulgrave. Scoresby held Mulgrave to 14 goals in the second and third quarter while scoring 25 of their own in a lead that was too large for Mulgrave to break. Scoresby Magpies have now consolidated themselves as the third seed and with one game left in the season, a match-up between these two teams in finals seems very likely.
Magpies pair, Jordyn Walker and Tegan Ryan scored 20 and 18 goals respectively.
Waverley Blues 26 def East Burwood 19
Montrose Heat 29 def Ferntree Gully 22
The Basin Bye