By Marcus Uhe
The tussle between Beaconsfield and Wandin lived up to all expectations on Saturday as the two sides could not be split after four quarters of intense netball.
The Eagles led the contest at every break before the Bulldogs mounted a stirring comeback in the final quarter.
Trailing by four goals at the beginning of the final term, Wandin outscored the visitors 14-10 to tie the scores at 51 at the final whistle.
Wandin Goal Defence Maddy George engaged in a critical battle with Eagles Goal Attack Zara Treweek, but Treweek’s 36 goals did the bulk of the scoring for the Eagles.
For Wandin, the returning Emmalia Blake put 34 through the hoop, to tie with Olinda Ferny Creek’s Hayley Howard on 163 at the peak of the goal scorer’s table.
Despite not getting the full four points, the Bulldogs remain in first place on the ladder, half a game clear of Narre Warren.
The Magpies made Gembrook Cockatoo’s Ladies Day one to forget with a thumping 42-goal victory overlooking the green nadirs of the Yarra Valley.
The unrelenting Magpies piled-on the pain for the Brookers, increasing their advantage at every break in play in the comprehensive 74-32 thrashing.
Narre Warren’s defenders provided the run and carry from behind where the Gembrook Cockatoo defenders were stagnant on offence.
With only eight players to choose from compared to Narre Warren’s 11, the Brookers were always going to be battling against one of the competition’s pacesetters.
Clare Vearing outscored the women in green with 44 girls of her own.
Since dropping their second game of the season to Wandin, they’ve won their last three matches by an average of 40 goals, nearly doubling their total number of conceded goals in their own goals scored column.
Pakenham celebrated Elayne Schneider’s 150th senior appearance with their first win of the season against Upwey Tecoma 38-25.
With Eliza Molina back in the defending goal circle, a miserly defensive performance saw them concede just four goals in the third quarter and extend their lead from six goals at the half to 13 at the final break, having scored 11 of their own in the third term.
Rose Laidlaw bettered the Tigers’ team total on her own, scoring 28 goals, with Leilani Pokia chipping in with 10.
Jessica Black was well-contained by Molino, scoring just 13.
At Olinda, the reigning premiers were pushed all the way by a fighting Mount Evelyn side.
The contest remained tight throughout the four quarters with no side leading by more than four goals at any break.
A 26-22 second half in favour of the home side saw them pull away late in the contest thanks to Hayley Howard’s 32 goals, winning 49-47.
Rory Barr matched her output for Mount Evelyn, but Taylah Werner provided a stronger supporting act than her Rovers counterpart Kaila Swindell.
At Berwick, 48 goals from Peri Reid lifted the Hawks to a 12-goal in defeat of Berwick.
Monbulk blew the contest open in the opening quarter by scoring 17 goals to Berwick’s seven, but Berwick responded with a 15-8 quarter of their own.
The Hawks finished the stronger of the two sides over the second half, however, scoring 26 goals to 17.
A grand final rematch between Narre Warren and Olinda Ferny Creek headlines round six’s match-ups.
