By Matt Fotia
After one week of glorious sunshine, the weather gods decided it was time for another round of wet weather netball as all four seasons confronted the netballers of the Outer East on Saturday. It didn’t bother Mount Evelyn who sewed up their top two spot, nor Kinglake, who held on against a fast finishing and starting Yarra Glen – it’s the Netball Review.
Pakenham Lions were able to pull off a surprise upset the last time they took on Mount Evelyn back in round four winning 29-24 to hand Mount Evelyn their first loss for the season. The Lions were able to get out to an early lead on that occasion before keeping Mount Evelyn at bay for the remainder of the match.
The Rovers were having none of that this time around.
Kaitlyn Black’s side jumped out to a 13-5 lead at the first break and despite the Lions winning the remainder of the game, the damage was done. Black finished with 23 goals, whilst partner in crime Ellie Karalua netted 16. The other Black (Jacqui) was named best on court. For Pakenham Kyra Elser and Mia Palmer both finished with 16 goals.
Mount Evelyn are now three games and a fair bit of percentage clear of the third placed Monbulk Hawks and are more or less certainties to finish in the top two.
The Lions are now left in a three way battle for the remaining double chance position along with Monbulk and Doveton. All of those sides are two games clear of Warburton Millgrove and Doveton are the only side with a lesser percentage than the Burras.
The Doves hung on in a nail biter over Belgrave on the weekend winning by one goal despite trailing by six goals at quarter time. Emily Pupuke shot 18 goals for the Doves whilst Melissa Webster was the best for those in Green and Black. Naomi Hargreaves finished with 19 for the desperately unlucky Magpies.
Tahlia Northey nailed 46 goals for Monbulk as they won 56-33 over a winless Emerald and ROC got back to winning ways defeating Warburton Millgrove by 17 goals. Dorothea George shot 22 goals and Emily La Roche was best on court as ROC kept hold of first place.
Kinglake have maintained their ownership of third spot on the Division Two ladder, overturning a two goal quarter time deficit to finish four goal winners over Yarra Glen, 43-39.
The Lakers put their foot down in the second and third quarters, outscoring Yarra Glen 25 to 16 to lead by seven come the final change. Alicia Mortley finished with 21 goals for Yarra Glen, whilst Alana Stone was impressive in defence.
Yarra Glen will be left to rue their inability to capitalise on their first quarter lead, but will take confidence from their ability to compete with one of the top three sides in the Division. They’re now very unlikely to pinch a top three spot, but have showed enough to be odds on favourite for fourth place, and will back themselves to get over the Lakers come September.
Kinglake continue to do enough when it comes to winning, but have yet to really put a side to the sword. They should win all bar one game for the remainder of the season and will be banking on a lift come finals time as they look to go one better in 2019.
Elsewhere Powelltown stayed in touch with the top five after a 54 goal win over Gembrook-Cockatoo, 72-18. Samantha Hansen shot 47 goals to bring her season tally to 287 whilst Nicole Hadjer grabbed the remaining 25 goals to lead Powelltown to a comfortable victory.
In the other Division Two clash for the weekend Yea remained undefeated as they got over Alexandra with relative ease, 52-25.
Melissa Martinov shot 21 goals, Nikki Watts 18 and Sharmini-Jane Philp 13 whilst Lauren Steyger was the Rebels best. Alexandra remain in fifth spot despite the loss, a game clear of Yarra Junction. The Rebels have a lower percentage than the Eagles, whom they face in round 18, in what could be a play off for the final spot in the finals.