By David Nagel
The top-three teams made a big statement in Outer East Women’s Division One on Saturday with Healesville, Upwey-Tecoma and Olinda Ferny Creek extending their lead at the top of the table.
The closest game of the round took place at Healesville, where the Bloods kicked inaccurately in front of goal on their way to a 7.16.58 to 1.1.7 victory over Pakenham.
The Lions held the Bloods to just four, five and four scoring shots in three quarters of football, but were lucky to escape in the second term when the Bloods had 10 shots at goal for the meek return of two goals eight.
The Lions were outclassed by their superior-skilled opponents, but lacked nothing by comparison in intensity, and challenged the premiership favourites at certain stages of the contest.
Kayla Menere was superb in the last line of defence, while Emily Devine, Aliya Daniel, Courtney Karayannis and Tayla Sbisa were rock-solid defenders for four quarters.
The Lions midfield was also far more competitive than the last time the two teams met, with ruck Sarah Ventura, Courtney Stephens, Bianca Moody and Chloe Nagel providing headaches around the ground.
The Lions celebrated hard when Chelsea English kicked a ripper from the boundary line in the third quarter, with that six-pointer the only goal the Lions had kicked against the Bloods across four outings and two seasons of football.
The Bloods were too classy in the end, with the lethal left foot of Danielle Carrucan snaring four goals, including a ripper from the pocket in the second term.
Casey Wilsmore was terrific for the winners, while Kate Methven and Sarah Frazzetto were fantastic contributors around the ground.
Pakenham faces another tough test this week, against reigning-premiers Upwey-Tecoma, while the Bloods will need to be at the top of their game when they head to third-placed Olinda Ferny Creek.
Upwey-Tecoma skipper Alex Bantock nailed four goals as the Tigers recorded a 54-point victory over Berwick Springs.
Bantock has now kicked 12 goals for the season and leads the goal-kicking ranks from her Tigers teammate Bec Thompson on nine.
The Titans made life difficult for the Tigers, conceding just one goal in the second term, but the allowed three to sneak through in the third.
Corinna White was best for the winners while Kyla McGuire and Nat Henry were spot-on performers for the Titans.
And Olinda Ferny Creek walked away with a 136-point victory over Monbulk.
The Bloods bookended the game stylishly, kicking six goals in the first quarter and seven six-pointers in the final term.
Vanessa Bateman snagged five, Grace Belloni, Leah Cody and Olivia Edwards three, while Kyah Barry and Casey Seymour kicked two each in a very impressive display from last year’s preliminary finalists.
Results R5: Healesville 7.16.58 def Pakenham 1.1.7, Upwey-Tecoma 7.13.55 def Berwick Springs 0.1.1, Monbulk 0.0.1 def by Olinda Ferny Creek 20.16.136.
Ladder: Healesville 20, Upwey-Tecoma 16, Olinda Ferny Creek 12, Pakenham 8, Berwick Springs 4, Monbulk 0.
Fixture R6: Pakenham (4) v Upwey-Tecoma (2) (10.30am), Olinda Ferny Creek (3) v Healesville (1) (4.45pm), Berwick Springs (5) v Monbulk (6) (4.45pm).
