Fast start helps Blues to victory
THOMSON recovered from the loss of Bridgitte Burns to hold on for a 43-34 win over a determined Corio on Saturday.
The match of the day between the now top-placed Thomson and a desperate Corio lived up to expectations, as the underdog Devils lost no friends despite the nine-goal loss.
It was always going to be a tight affair, with Corio committed to a full-court defensive game.
Thomson coach Shannyn Leach was fully aware of what her team would confront and enjoyed the challenge.
“We were able to get away to a good start again, on the back of some excellent shooting from Emma Witham, and that proved to be the difference in the end,” Leach said post match.
“After we lost Bridgitte Burns to a knee injury in the second quarter, our balance was upset for a while.
“But our little dynamo Calsey Wolak went into the centre after halftime and steadied things for us.”
Leach was full of praise for the work Corio coach Shayna Poto had done with the Devils this season.
“When we met in Round 1, Corio scored only two goals in the first half and clearly had plenty of things to work on, but Shayna has them playing a strong, aggressive, team-oriented game,” Leach said.
“They certainly bring a physical element to the game, which is a bit unique to our competition, but we needed to have this challenge and the girls quite enjoyed it.
“Our supporters certainly enjoyed the game as a spectacle.” WINCHELSEA 52 d BELL POST HILL 41 BELL Post Hill put in a dogged performance to close the gap after a slow start against Winchelsea, but the damage was done in the 18-9 first quarter, with the Blues going on to win by 11 goals.
The Blues finally fixed their poor starts, bursting out to a nine-goal quarter-time lead on the back of impressive work from wingers Casey Carroll and Narelle Place.
The Panthers slowly worked their way back into the game as the returning Abby Croft started to find her best touch in defence.
The consistent Winchelsea duo of Lilian Kent and Steph Hillman stood firm at the back end, but Bell Post Hill shooters Monique Grozdanovski (16 goals) and Louise Johnston (25) kept their focus, allowing the Panthers to dominate the final quarter to take a great deal of pride from the match. DESPITE the by-law issue during the week, which saw Werribee’s A-grade team lose all its points and plummet to the bottom of the ladder, the Centurions turned up with another complete performance.
A new-look Werribee defensive unit led by Paras MacKenzie and Hailey Sildatke started the attacking charges, regularly intercepting the Magpies’ forays forward.
Ellie Tubbs returned to her best form under the ring, sinking 49 goals to reward the brilliant mid-court service from Meg Noonan and Kate Sablic.
The consistent Shae Rowbottom and Cody Dixon worked hard to keep North in the contest, teaming well to feed Meg Websdale.
Websdale finished with a more-than-credible 35 goals. Along with another standout performance from young, goalkeeper Taylah Maar, North Geelong’s future looks promising. RECENT form suggested this was going to be a close contest — and that was proved with the final-siren deadlock.
The Giants held sway after a tight first quarter and pulled away to lead by a game-high 11 goals during the second.
Naomi Maaka was dominating under the ring for West, on her way to a 46-goal return.
Brooke Mallia and Marley Primmer had control of the mid-court as the Giants looked to be running away with the game as halftime approached.
The Hawks injected Elly Lang into defence during the second quarter and she was able to steady her team by halftime. Inverleigh’s Vanessa Finley-McDonald found her range in attack and the Hawks dominated the third period.
A goal-for-goal last quarter had the spectators on edge. IT WAS another clinical display from East Geelong, with the Eagles’ bookends Shannon Pietsch and Steph Boyce at their dominant best.
Pietsch netted 36 goals and worked efficiently with the underrated and energetic Emily Rankin under the ring.
The in-form trio of Anakie defenders Brydi Toyne, Lauren Keam and Aimee Burgess performed well under the intensity of the Eagles’ attack. BELMONT fell well short of a dominant Bannockburn team in a 55-goal loss on Saturday.
Bannockburn star Georgia Duncan looms as a favourite to win the Margaret Webb Medal with another stunning display at goal attack.
Erin Dillon was at her best again, leading the tight defence that allowed only 22 goals to pass, while Alana Nicol controlled the transition through the mid-court. Despite the overwhelming odds, Belmont coach Courtney Leith battled hard for her Lions with support from Emily Shanley and Jess Campbell.