Around the Courts - Round 1

By Hugh Maclean

Division 2

A strong Caulfield side stamped themselves early as one of the teams to beat in division two with a dominant 54-26 win over Mordialloc. Strong efforts from the likes of Jerzie Vernall and Katie Minogue couldn’t halt a rampaging Caulfield for whom Lynne Moyes scored 43 goals. Heatherton conceded an early advantage to Dingley which they battled to pull back throughout the day, taking the lead in the last quarter and holding it to run out 50-46 victors. Bianca Waras-Carstensen scored 32 times for Dingley but Annalise Flarve and Kate Ebert were impressive for the winners in defence, particularly in the second half. Oakleigh District were excellent after an even first quarter in putting paid to St Pauls by 44-28 with Claudia Papatsikas and Kirsty Mann amongst the best. Matilda Davies put on an excellent display at goal keeper for Keysborough as they pegged back an early deficit to beat St Kilda City by 31-27. The match of the day however came from two sides that look finals bound as Cheltenham won each of four tight quarters in beating Murrumbeena by 42-32. Division one quality players were all over the court, with Emma Gent and Alice Williams among the best for their respective sides.

Division 3

South Yarra lost the first quarter to Caulfield but won each of the last three in scoring a solid 31-27 opening day victory. St Kilda City took on Dingley in a closely fought game that showed that these sides are likely to be amongst the ones to beat, withstanding a last quarter challenge to win by 42-37. Black Rock took to the court with a team that had plenty of experience at division three level, but were no match for a Murrumbeena side that took control early and never relinquished it, winning by 53-30. In the final match of the day, Frankston Dolphins played their first match in the SFNL competition and did it in style, taking control of their match against Bentleigh in the middle quarters and winning by 31-14.

Division 4

Mordialloc won an otherwise even match by dominating the third quarter against St Kilda City, the final score being 40-32. Star shooter Felicity Dawkins had a day out in East Brighton’s division four debut, scoring 50 goals in their comprehensive 60-30 win over Caulfield. Springvale Districts led all day before finally beating Keysborough by 42-22. Kimberly Harrison scored 41 goals from goal attack for Carrum- Patterson Lakes as they beat Heatherton by 53-38. Doveton Eagles said hello to division four in fine order, taking a ten-goal lead to the first break and winning every quarter in beating Oakleigh District by 52-29.

Division 5

Hampton showed no fear from their rise in divisions as they strode to a twelve-goal lead at half time against Heatherton, and although they were outscored by a goal in the second half the damage had been done as Hampton won by 36-25. St Kilda City had no answer all day to the threat posed by Doveton Eagles, with the Eagles coasting to a 58-19 victory. An experienced Caulfield beat a young Mordialloc by 46-30, increasing their lead at every break, while Lyndhurst were similarly too good for Dingley, the final margin being 52-36. The match of the day however was that between Lyndale and South Yarra, a see-sawing affair that ebbed and flowed all day. The Yarras took a two goal lead to the first break, which Lyndale reduced to one by half time and overhauled in the third quarter. South Yarra, however, came again in the final term and held their nerve to complete a meritorious 40-38 victory.

Division 6

Doveton Eagles continued an excellent round one for the club, beating Springvale Districts convincingly by 32-16. Parkdale Vultures made their SFNL debut but were no match for a rampaging Aspendale Arrows, who were largely untroubled in winning by 58-17. An entertaining clash between Murrumbeena and Highett ended with Murrumbeena holding their two goal half time advantage to the finish to secure the four points, winning by 31-29. Lyndhurst won a match of shifting momentum against East Brighton by 40-33, streaking away in the last quarter after only leading by one at three-quarter time. In the final game, Heatherton were way too good in the battle of the traditional rivals, beating Dingley by 46-26.

Division 7

Doveton Eagles’ defence was way too good for Carrum- Patterson Lakes in recording a 38-6 victory. St Kilda City were similarly clinical in holding St Pauls scoreless in the first and last quarters, winning by 33-7. Cheltenham finished like steam trains against Hallam but fell short by the barest possible margin, Hallam prevailing by 39-38. Mordialloc improved as the day went on against Springvale Districts but couldn’t overhaul a twelve-goal half time deficit, with Districts winning by 43-32. Finally, the SFNL welcomes Skye back into the competition, and they returned in style. Keysborough took a 14-3 lead to the first change and things looked bleak for the Bomber girls, but with Genna Doyle and Danielle Sharp tightening up in defence and the midcourt beginning to give the attackers good supply, Skye were able to goal fifteen times in the last term to run out 35-34 victors.

Division 8

Ellise Heitmann, Erin Moody and Caitlyn Ewing all had field days in attack for Hampton as they demolished Lyndhurst by 78-10. Doveton Eagles were just as frugal in only allowing nine Lyndale goals in reply to 41 of their own. Bentleigh overturned a two-goal half time deficit in beating South Yarra by 35-30, while a strong looking Dingley side led from barrier to box in beating Caulfield by 42-20. Frankston Dolphins continued their promising first day of SFNL competition in their 30-18 victory over Dandenong. They took an early lead which they extended to eight goals at half time, and although the Redlegs were able to hold up the Dolphins shooters in the third term they could make no impression on the deficit themselves, handing Frankston the four points.

Division 9

Hampton Park 1 turned for home with an eleven goal lead over Mordialloc, and withstood a withering last-quarter fightback to win by 22-18. Oakleigh District’s shooters had a purple patch in the second quarter against Black Rock, but that’s the only quarter that they won as the Jetballers scored a sound 40-33 victory. Hampton were too good for Highett, establishing a good lead in the first half and continuing their dominance after the main break to win by 34-16. Tamsin Hafey scored 33 times and Angelika Kakavoulis 30 as Murrumbeena beat Parkdale Vultures in a high scoring encounter by 80-30. Dingley were untroubled in their 42-16 win over Parkdale Vultures in the day’s last match.

Division 10

Keysborough handed Doveton Eagles their only defeat in six matches on day one as they won every quarter in their 27-17 triumph. Springvale Districts Red looked impressive in their 36-24 win over Hampton, with their clubmates Springvale Districts Blue looking just as strong in their lead-all-day 41-16 defeat of Dandenong. Clayton also joined the winners list with a solid 33-22 win in a competitive encounter with Heatherton. Clayton began well with twelve first quarter goals, and although their defence held sway all day they were never completely able to relax against the gallant black and whites.