By DAVID NAGEL
IT has huffed and it has puffed but it couldn’t blow the house down … until Saturday that is … Cranbourne finally got reward for its effort with a 32-goal win over Tooradin at Casey Fields.
The Eagles – under new-coach Simon O’Shanassy – have already shown enough to suggest they’ll be there when the whips are cracking at the pointy end of the season.
But a round one draw with Narre Warren, and then a three-goal loss to Berwick – both perennial finalists mind you – had left the Eagles feeling a little underwhelmed with their return.
They sorted that out with a dominant performance against the Seagulls on Anzac Day.
“We need to put things in perspective, and not get carried away, but it was great to get a win on the board,” O’Shanassy said.
O’Shanassy has some very talented young players at his disposal. His young goal-shooting combination of Amy Paulsen and Monalisa Groom -a former all New Zealand junior – is coming together nicely, fed beautifully by Jess O’Hanlon. Natalie Sparks and Sam Kelly are two 17-year-olds on the rise, while Tara Cecil and Alanah Hardy add polish, being two of the better players in the league.
“Tara’s a great defender, everyone in the league knows that, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player like Alanah who can play in any position on the court,” O’Shanassy said.
The Eagles’ head-honcho said this could be one of the most even seasons on record.
“It’s a great competition this season, with six or seven teams who have a realistic chance to play finals,” he said.
Tooradin has now suffered two hefty defeats, but with Alexandra Duff, Alice Ditchfield and Shona Wells leading the way it should be back in the winners circle in no time.
It was more like an Anzac Day Torvill and Dean Spectacular than a netball match when Pakenham rolled ROC by 14 goals at Toomuc Reserve.
The famous British ice-dancers would have been proud, as players from both sides skated their way around a playing surface that could only be described as unsafe.
The game was called off mid way through the third term when both teams agreed that the courts were far too dangerous to continue playing on.
All four participants from the weekend now have a break as Berwick, Beaconsfield, Doveton and Narre Warren complete round three this Saturday, while Hampton Park has the bye.
