Accurate Blues overpower Pies
A grade: Catani 47 defeated Poowong 35. It was a nervous start from both sides in the opening term. Some great defensive pressure from Catani gave them an early break. The Catani goalers found their range very early to take a 14-6 lead into the first break.
Crucial changes allowed Catani to extend their lead to nine during the second quarter, converting their turnovers and holding their nerve, while Poowong continued to struggle to steady.
An early intercept from Poowong created inspiration early in the third quarter. However, Catani made the most of Poowong’s missed opportunities and reaped the reward on the scoreboard. Both teams fought hard for every possession and Poowong produced some great plays in the latter part of the quarter, finding a lot more space on the court. Catani held a 3324 advantage at the final break.
Catani’s full-court pressure was very strong in the last term. They kept the momentum and continued to shoot accurately. Poowong provided some clean passages of play but were unable to close the gap from the first quarter. Catani came home strong, winning by 12 goals.
Best on court: Catani mid-courter Ashleigh Honan. B grade: Buln Buln 58 defeated Poowong 45. Buln had a steady start, while a few missed goals from Poowong saw them trail early in the match. Both defensive ends created turnovers, but it was Buln who converted with goals to extend their lead. Poowong gained four of the next five goals, but were struggling to neutralise Buln’s height advantage in the goal circle. Buln led 13-8 at the first change.
Plenty of great contests for the ball in the second quarter resulted in many turnovers by both teams. Players were beginning to feel the pressure with some footwork infringements and missed goals, with neither team was able to string a run of goals together. Buln worked hard to get a lead of eight before some lovely attacking moves from Poowong reduced the margin to five at half-time.
Poowong worked hard in defence with hands over to reduce the margin to three, but great attacking movement from Buln drew the lead back out to eight. The crowd got involved as Poowong enjoyed a great run, highlighted by beautiful feeding into the circle to score four in a row. Buln then nailed some long-range shots to lead 39-33 at the last break.
Both teams made some changes for the last quarter. Solid rebounds from Buln were converted to give a double figure lead. Poowong settled in attack and started to chip away at the gap, converting crucial defensive turnovers. The intensity lifted as the margin reduced, but an injury proved costly for Poowong and Buln went on a run of goals to win by 13 goals.
Best on court: Buln Buln goal attack Laura Williams.
C grade: Longwarry 35 defeated Nilma Darnum 33.
Nerves were evident in the opening stages. Longwarry gathered the loose ball to score a quick four goals, only to have Darnum find their rhythm and respond to be four goals ahead at the first change.
Longwarry came out firing in the first few minutes of the second quarter to level the scores. Their goalers stepped up their shooting accuracy despite great defensive efforts from Darnum. The Darnum mid-court and goalers combined well in the latter part of the term to hold a two-goal lead at half-time.
Darnum goalers worked well together to extend their lead in the third, only to have the Longwarry mid-court provide turnovers for their team to take a three-goal lead at the last break.
The intensity stepped up from both teams in the final quarter. The determination from both teams across the court made for a great spectacle, with some excellent intercepts being taken. The battle for the finish line was intense as the game became goal for goal. The hunger from Longwarry prevailed, winning by two goals.
Best on Court: Nilma Darnum defender Emma Tyson. D grade: Ellinbank 40 defeated Longwarry 26. Ellinbank started well, getting off to an early lead. Both teams provided great pressure through the midcourt, but Longwarry’s tall goalers allowed them to capitalise with a threegoal lead at quarter time.
Ellinbank responded well in the second, applying intense pressure over the ball and contesting well all over the court. This allowed them to reverse the lead by half-time. Ellinbank led 19-16.
Pressure was maintained throughout the third and great match-ups at both ends of the court made it difficult for either team to score. The Bankers remained settled and great drive from Demi Durrand in the centre afforded them many opportunities in attack.
Ellinbank dominated the final quarter, running away to a convincing 14-goal win.
Best on court: Ellinbank defender Caitlin Farr.
E grade: Warragul Industrials 30 defeated Longwarry 28.
Nerves impacted both teams in the opening minutes of the match, but it was Longwarry who settled first with some great feeding into the goal circle. Dusties’ passes were letting them down, to face a three-goal deficit by the first change.
Accurate passing was eluding both teams in the second. However, bringing Alex Brice into goals proved fruitful for Dusties as they managed to turn the game around, allowing Longwarry very few scoring opportunities. Dusties led at half-time, 17-12.
The pressure from the Dusties midcourt caused loads of problems for Longwarry in the third. But the Crows started attacking the ball well to create more goaling opportunities. They had the margin back to three at the last break.
Longwarry began the final term with increased aggression for the ball, which played havoc with Dusties’ forward moves. Longwarry found the post easier than their opponents, but Dusties managed to hold on for a two-goal win.
Best on court: Dusties’ defender Sienna Green.
F grade: Warragul Industrials 20 defeated Catani 16.
The first few minutes of the game was a little scrappy from both sides with nerves clearly showing. Dusties were the first to settle in with some great defensive work creating some scoring opportunities. Their attack end capitalised to go to the first break with a 6-2 lead.
Catani came out firing in the second, ready to work hard to peg back the deficit, but they struggled to move the ball out of defence. Dusties’ offensive work kept the ball down their scoring end more much to lead by six goals at half-time.
Both teams had a great third quarter, scoring four goals apiece. Some changes to Catani’s defence saw their transitions come out much easier.
Catani again came out firing in the last to score some early goals, reducing the margin to three before Dusties scored again. The momentum came too late, and Dusties held on for a four-goal victory.
Best on court: Dusties’ mid-courter Zali Metcalfe.