Pies fly to victory
The qualifying finals were played at Catani on Saturday.
A grade: Poowong 38 defeated Catani 33.
Defensively both teams came out strong. Poowong’s midcourt worked hard to turn the ball over and convert into goals. They led 8-5 at quarter time.
Catani came out strong and levelled the score to 11-all. However, Poowong fought hard in defence to re-gain the lead. Poowong led 17–14 at half-time.
Catani continue to fight and came within two goals. Poowong’s accurate goaling pushed them out to a six-goal lead. They led 31-25 at the last break.
Poowong came out strong, fighting for every goal and rebound. Catani had some lovely court play but couldn’t get across the line.
Best on court: Mieke Polman-Short, Poowong.
B grade: Catani 36 defeated Buln Buln 34.
Both teams came out strong, going goal-for-goal. Buln Buln’s strong rebounds gave them opportunity to convert turnovers into goals. They led 10-8.
The second quarter saw players compete strongly at both ends. Catani’s intercepts allowed them to pull away and lead midway through the quarter by four. However, Buln fought its way back and closed the margin. Catani led by one goal.
Buln’s momentum from the closing stages of the second quarter continued. Nice goaling by Buln made the Catani defenders work hard. Buln was in front by three goals at the last break.
Catani made changes which paid off. They took control of the quarter, fighting back from three goals down to two goals up. Best on court: Molly Wells, Catani. C grade: Ellinbank 48 defeated Longwarry 40.
A few nerves came over both teams. Longwarry settled to prove too strong in its attack end during the first quarter. Ellinbank’s midcourters presented a few good intercepts late in the quarter which helped on the scoreboard.
Bad decision making cost Longwarry the lead in the second quarter as Ellinbank really capitalised on turnovers. Ellinbank led 24-20 at halftime.
Ellinbank’s circle defence was too good for Longwarry. Ellinbank’s intensity really lifted in the third quarter, stretching the lead out from four to six goals.
Longwarry came out firing but the Ellinbank team kept their cool and maintained possession for most of the quarter. Ellinbank’s attack end was too strong.
Best on Ellinbank.
D grade: Catani 37 defeated Buln Buln 32.
Both teams started very strong in the first quarter. Catani had good leads, but Buln fought back to make the scores 7-all at quarter time.
In the second quarter, Buln’s goalers worked well together and the defensive pressure was being applied strongly. As for Catani, they had multiple opportunities but made errors. Buln led 20-17.
Catani lifted in the third quarter, fighting for intercepts and converting them into goals. Catani’s efforts were rewarded with a one-goal lead at the end of the quarter.
It was a nail-biting final quarter. Catani took the lead and kept calm. They didn’t rush to force errors and kept the ball under control. They were rewarded with a five-goal win. Best on court: Emily Warren, Catani. E grade: Catani 29 defeated Longwarry 22.
It was a tightly contested first quarter. Catani’s defensive pressure all over the court was impressive. However, some key intercepts by the Longwarry goal keeper kept them in the game. Catani’s wing attack and court: Kate Johnson, goal shooter combined well, with good feeding into the ring and accurate goaling resulting in Catani leading 7-4 at quarter time.
Longwarry lifted in the second quarter. Accurate goaling by both sides saw an evenly contested quarter. Catani was able to hold strong going into the half-time break with a 16-11 lead.
Catani’s attacking end continued to combine well. Longwarry dug deep, however, its efforts weren’t rewarded. Catani maintained the lead at the last break.
Impressive ball movement from Catani enabled them to hold off Longwarry who never gave up.
Best on court: Maddy Dalton, Catani.
F grade: Ellinbank 34 defeated Longwarry 13.
In windy conditions, it was a tightly contested first quarter. Both teams showed nerves but began to settle. Ellinbank edged in front by one goal to end the first quarter.
Longwarry stepped up with strong defence bringing them back into the game. Ellinbank fought back, collecting any loose balls and not letting it be an easy game for Longwarry.
Ellinbank started the third quarter strong with the first nine goals. This was the result of fantastic rebounds from Ellinbank goalers and defenders as well as intercepts and pickups down the court. Longwarry fought back with pressure over every ball and some good rebounds and intercepts, but were only rewarded with one goal.
Longwarry started the last quarter with a goal. However, with Ellinbank’s stronger desire and every player having strong arms, this allowed for many intercepts rewarded with goals. Fatigue started to show for Longwarry and the Ellinbank team used this to their advantage. Both teams showed great play.
Best on court: Molly Bingham, Ellinbank.