SFNL Netball Round 6 Review
By Hugh Maclean
*Due to unforeseen circumstances, this is an abridged article this week, but Hugh will be back on deck with a more in-depth review next week!
DIVISION 1
Dingley 50 Mordialloc 26
Dingley solidified their position at the apex of the Division 1 ladder following their comfortable victory over reining premiers Mordialloc. The Bloods brought good defensive pressure early on the contest, but their passes simply weren’t sticking. Meanwhile, Dingley’s intensity around the court was way too much for a Mordialloc side that doesn’t seem to have the same hunger as they had during their charge to a maiden premiership last year. The ravenous Dingoes built on a 14-7 quarter time and 28-13 half time lead to run out convincing winners, and cement themselves as flag favourites. The experienced Sara Merkus and Alicia Wise were excellent for Dingley, while Ella Quinlan with 27 goals finished their work well in her return to the side. First gamer Jerzie Vernall showed her Mordi teammates the enthusiasm they needed to have, and Jess de Garis, who would be close to leading their B & F, was also suitably impressive.
Oakleigh District 50 Caulfield 28
The Districts continued their impressive start to the season as they downed Caulfield in a brilliant performance. Oakleigh’s ball movement was exceptional from the start, with the rapier-like passes of the Mifsud sisters stretching the Caulfield defence. After a relatively even start, Phoebe Naughton and Megan Ellett were under siege in the Bears defence, and the Districts begun to take a stranglehold of the contest. The likes of Oakleigh’s Jaya Blandthorn and Leah Seeto showed Caulfield what intensity is, as Caulfield left too much to too few. The Bears moved the ball better late in the game, but by that time the Districts had the luxury of being able to just keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Heatherton 64 St Pauls 34
The second-paced Tunners have cruised to a comfortable victory over a depleted St Pauls. The Saints were decimated by illness and injury, with three first-choice players missing and as many other players on court severely hampered. Nevertheless, the ruthless Heatherton defenders worked hard not to give their opposing shooters the post and keep them at the edge of the circle. The Tunners were more composed in the frenetic pace of the first half, and cleaner and more dangerous as both sides tired late. Lauren Spinks and Beth Wilson shared 49 of Heatherton’s goals as their side was just too good on the day.
DIVISION 2
Keysborough and Mordialloc fought out thrilling battle, with the former claiming victory by the slenderest of margins, 42 to 41. The Burra’s experience and physicality carried the day as they overturned a two-goal three-quarter time deficit to win by one. Murrumbeena crept into the top four with a 37-29 victory over Oakleigh District. It was all square at quarter time, but Murrumbeena took the initiative in the second term and finished the match strongly. It was a battle between two highly-fancied sides in Heatherton and Cheltenham, but the Tunners made a statement from the start as the went on to claim a 49-36 win. Olivia Morris netted 31 goals in her second game of the day after playing a half in Division 1, while Cheltenham won the last quarter to keep it respectable. Ladder leaders Caulfield were clinical as they dispatched Dingley 43-28. The Bears won every quarter but the second, with Prue McGowan and Julie Masterson excellent in defence.
DIVISION 3
Murrumbeena got the chocolates over local rivals Caulfield, winning 54 to 29. Jarrah Thomson netted 30 goals in a dominant Lions display. South Yarra had it all their own way during their 52 to 32 victory over Cheltenham. The Yarras were in control from the start but won the third quarter by 10 goals to really put the game to bed. St Kilda City kept its unbeaten record intact with a 44-38 win over St Pauls. The highly rated City established control in the first two quarters before holding St Pauls at arm’s length in the second half. Dingley were simply too good for Frankston Dolphins as they cruised to a comprehensive 47-12 triumph. The Dingoes' back three were particularly impressive in the victory.
DIVISION 4
St Kilda City have pulled off a great come-from-behind 38-35 victory over Oakleigh District. Oakleigh were in front all day, but City wore them down to pinch the three-goal victory late. Clayton proved too good for Springvale Districts, running out 53-31 winners. The Clays took control after quarter time and won the last term 17-5 for a convincing win with Bec Collins netting 38 goals from GA. CPL were simply too good for Bentleigh, recording a thumping 70-18 win with Kimberly Harrison leading the goal tally with 48. East Brighton took the points over Keysborough 53-42, while Doveton Eagles enjoyed a nine-goal win over Heatherton 49-40.
DIVISION 5
Hampton were too good for St Kilda City, and enough of a lead to take their foot off the pedal in the last term and cruise to a 33-16 win. Bentleigh held off a fast-finishing Dingley to win 45-39. Bentleigh led by 13 heading into the last quarter and although Dingley stormed home it wasn’t enough to pinch victory. Nicole Carmeni contributed 37 of Dingley’s 39 goals in a sterling effort. Aspendale Arrows won their first quarter by five goals, and that was enough to secure them a 43-39 win over Lyndhurst, with the contest pretty even after the first change. Caulfield were way too polished for Lyndale as they won 62-36, with Samantha Dix contributing 45 goals for the Bears, while Doveton Eagles 51 defeated Mordialloc 32.
DIVISION 6
Doveton Eagles were too experienced as they took the points over Parkdale Vultures, winning 35-32 in a see-sawing game. Dingley started brightly in their clash with Springvale Districts, but the latter won the last three quarters to run out 40-27 victors. St Kilda City have pulled off a nail-biting 38-37 victory over Highett. Remarkably, City only won one quarter – the third – but that was enough in a game that was close all day. Heatherton were clinical as they ran away with a 45-21 win over Murrumbeena The scoreboard read 10-all at quarter time, but that’s as good as it got for the Lions with Stephanie Webb especially strong at GK. Claire Warren slotted 30 goals for Caulfield as they put East Brighton to the sword 39-6 in a clinical defensive display.
DIVISION 7
St Kilda City were in front all day and potted 18 goals in the last quarter to crown their 52-28 victory over Hallam, with Alethea Lingham posting 36 goals. It was another dominant day for the Hampton girls as they closed out 56-11 winners over Skye with Ellise Heitmann continuing her great start to the season with 35 goals. In other results, Heatherton were too good for an undermanned Cheltenham 70-15, Springvale Districts ran away in the last quarter to defeat CPL 45- 36 and South Yarra defeated Keysborough 55-28.
DIVISION 8
South Yarra dug deep to record a come-from-behind 40-36 win over Cheltenham. The Rosellas won the first quarter 17-7 but the Yarras restored parity just after three-quarter time and ran away with the game from there. In a dour defensive match, Frankston Dolphins came from behind in the last quarter to take a 19-15 win over Bentleigh, while the Doveton Eagles held the improving St Pauls at arm’s length all day in their 36-28 triumph. Caulfield were way too good in their 52-12 belting of Lyndale and the experience Dingoes led all day as they defeated Dandenong 42-25.
DIVISION 9
Mordialloc set up their 39-17 win over Black Rock with an 11-1 quarter time lead, with Aisling Gallant excellent in defence for the Reds. Oakleigh District and Parkdale couldn’t be split as they played out 29-all draw, with the game even at both half time and full time. Hampton were too good for Dingley, with their 56-12 win set up courtesy of a 20-3 opening term after which the Dingoes never got close. Murrumbeena came from behind to post a strong 32-29 win over Highett while Hampton Park crushed Lyndhurst 63-17.
DIVISION 10
Hampton were competitive early but Heatherton proved way too polished as they won 41-14, while a strong second half propelled Clayton to a 34-25 triumph over Keysborough. Scores were level at half time, but Dandenong lifted in the third term to record a 23-20 win over Springvale Districts Red. Oakleigh District were too good for Doveton Eagles 26-6, with, Doveton scoring just one goal after half time.
