By Marcus Uhe
Victories to Beaconsfield and Olinda Ferny Creek over fellow contenders in round 14 have further congested the pointy end of the A Grade netball ladder with four weeks remaining before finals.
Just two points separate Mt Evelyn in second position and Beaconsfield in fifth, with Olinda Ferny Creek and Wandin sandwiched between the two in third and fourth respectively.
Beaconsfield inflicted Wandin’s fourth loss in its last five contests as it endures a brutal period in the fixture against a series of league heavyweights.
The Eagles held the competition’s leading goal scorer in Emmalia Blake to just 34, her equal-lowest total of the season, in the 45-39 victory.
It was comfortably Beaconsfield’s most significant win of the campaign to date, having struggled to beat the sides above them on the table, their closest previous result being a draw when they last faced the Bulldogs.
Elizabeth Murphy’s 36 goals meant she got the better of the two shooters, leading the way alongside Gabrielle Stinear.
Olinda Ferny Creek have stretched its win-streak to six matches, accounting for Mt Evelyn by four goals 51-47.
The Bloods extended its quarter time lead from four goals to 13 at the long break, a margin the Rovers were unable to reel-in despite winning the second half 26-17.
Hayley Howard delivered another dominant performance scoring 42 goals for the Bloods, engaging in a gripping contest with Kaitlyn Black, with Ava Van Leemput adding a spark off the bench.
Rory Barr scored 37 for the Rovers.
Watching the commotion unfold from the top of the table is Narre Warren, now two games clear in pole position thanks to Mt Evelyn’s loss.
The Magpies ensured Gembrook Cockatoo’s torrid season continued, inflicting a second 100-goal total on the Brookers in three weeks.
Erin Bell’s side were at their brutal best, saving their most dominant quarter for last, scoring 32 goals to four to finish 102-25 winners.
It’s the biggest margin of victory for any team in 2023, having eclipsed Mt Evelyn’s 75-goal defeat of the Brookers two weeks earlier.
Clare Vearing nailed 75 goals for the Magpies, one of the highest individual returns of the season, while Jemma Osborne highlighted their side’s ridiculous depth by scoring 25 off the bench.
Mary Miles and Jordan Reynolds tried their hardest in defence for Gembrook Cockatoo as Chelsea Ingram scored 17 goals.
At Thompson Reserve, Upwey Tecoma got the better of Pakenham thanks to a strong first half.
The Tigers led by five at quarter time and eight at the half, on the back of some excellent defence.
Pakenham were often forced go backwards from its centre pass and found it difficult to penetrate the goal circle as Upwey Tecoma pushed players into the back thirds.
Scoring became easier for Pakenham as the game went on, recording its second highest total for the season, but it wasn’t enough to get the better of the Tigers, who claimed a 49-44 victory.
Mia Lui (24 goals) and Molly Argoon (18) shared the scoring duties for the home side, offering a dual threat in attack that was too much for the Pakenham defenders to stop.
Wing attack Emma Jones was among Pakenham’s bests.
At Monbulk, Peri Reid’s second half-century of goals for the season led Monbulk to a 22-goal win over Berwick.
From quarter time onwards the Hawks outscored the visitors 49-29 to record a sixth win of the campaign.
Reid starred with 51 on the back of pristine service from Nicole Macdowell and Sophie Stubbs in the mid-court.
Brooke Abu-Jaber nailed 20 goals for Berwick who languish in third-last.
