By Carli Mitchell
BREAST Cancer Awareness Day saw not only pink footballs but pink netballs in what is now a major and successful community awareness campaign staged every season on Mother’s Day.
The day was also huge at Olinda with Netball Vic nominating Olinda as the WorkSafe game of the month. There were free WorkSafe health checks and Australian netball captain Sharelle McMahon took 30 budding junior Olinda and Warburton netballers through their paces in a one-hour training session before the matches began.
After last week’s win Olinda Ferny Creek couldn’t maintain the momentum and went down to more experienced Warburton by 34 goals.
Warburton Millgrove, having lost its match last week, registered its second win for the season by playing a more seasoned and competitive brand of netball.
Although both teams started well, Warburton Millgrove was the better side with more accurate shooters, and with defenders intercepting and providing run from defence. Warburton won 53–19.
Mount Evelyn remained undefeated. Travelling to Gembrook Cockatoo, it dominated in all aspects and won game convincingly 78-19. The team will head into next week’s game against Wandin with plenty of confidence. Wandin, hosting Monbulk, lost a tight and exciting game that could have been won by either side. In what was one of the closest games of the round it was Monbulk that came away with the points.
By the end of the match, Monbulk’s defenders proved they could stand up to Wandin’s pressure, preventing it from scoring the four goals to win. Monbulk won 32-29.Despite a slow start, Upwey Tecoma and visitors Healesville staged what was arguably the best game of the round. Both teams won last weekend and each came into the game with something to prove.
After quarter-time, it was goal for goal and with their gaolers shooting accurately and their defenders intercepting and spoiling effectively, it was hard to separate the two sides. So it seemed appropriate that it should all end in a draw, 44 each.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 2
POWELLTOWN travelled to Alexandra for what was to be a satisfying win. It could do no wrong as, showing how accurate its shooters were and how strong its defenders. Powelltown won 48-26.
Emerald, hosting Seville, lost by 10 goals in an exciting game. Despite Emerald losing in a close game, the game was riveting and competitive but Seville with another win proved it is a true finals contender. It won 41-31.
Yea hosted Yarra Junction in what was to be a one-sided affair. Despite playing well, Yarra Junction was no match for the home side, whose centre court players passed accurately and whose shooters barely missed. Yea won 62-42.
Kinglake enjoyed a win over Belgrave at home. It came out firing with its goalers shooting accurately despite the persistence of Belgrave’s defenders. Although still winless, Belgrave’s skills are improving but Kinglake won 51-21.
In what was the closest game of the round, Thornton Eildon went to Yarra Glen for what was a real struggle for both sides. There was barely a goal between the two sides all day but Yarra Glen eventually held off an excellent opponent by a mere three goals, 48-45.
