By Steve Ebbels
Round 4 and after a couple of weeks playing away Helaesville Football Netball club were looking forward to being back at home against old rivals Woori Yallock.
Also being Healesville’s past players day, the anticipation of a big crowd had all players excited to get out there, and for most teams, bounce back from some disappointing results from last week.
First game of the day was the Senior Women footballers.
The first quarter was a fairly tight tussle with both sides finding it hard to get much on the scoreboard.
At the end of the first term Woori just had their nose in front 1.1.7 to 0.2.2.
Healesville took control in the second quarter kicking three goals and holding Woori scoreless to take a
15-point lead into the main break.
Healsville went on to dominate the rest of the game especially in the last quarter kicking six goals to run out winners 11.8.74 to 3.2.20.
Best for Healesville D.Jones, S.Morris, A.Caldicott, S.Frazzetto, P.Pavic, M.Coleman.
Similar to our Women’s side the U18’s were looking to bounce back from last weeks defeat at Mt Evelyn.
The day also saw them get the first opportunity to run out in their Heritage jumpers specially created for this season to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the club’s 1945 Senior Premiership. The Healesville boys dominated this game from the first bounce taking complete control.
Halftime saw Healesville with a massive 11.6.72 to 0.1.1 lead.
The trend continued for the remainder of the game with Healesville going on comfortably win 18.11.119 to 4.4.28.
Best for Healesville B.Collins, C.Bradford. G.Houlihan, L.Wright, T.Dunne, C.Hammond.
Out on the netball courts first up was the B Graders looking to improve on last weeks effort.
First quarter and Healseville girls worked hard to stay in the game but Woori lead at first break 16 to 4.
The next two quarters saw Woori really dominate holding Healesville scoreless while putting on 42 goals themselves.
To their credit the Heaelsville girls never gave up and managed to put on another four goals in the last but in the end Woori went on to win 77 to 11.
Best for Healesville Z.Vandenbroeck, S.Maile, A.McMaster.
Back at the oval and much like the Women and U18’s the Reserves were looking to regroup after last week’s disappointing result.
Early signs weren’t great with Woori coming out strong to go into first break leading 4.2.26 to 1.1.7.
Second quarter saw Healesville work hard to get the game back on their terms to outscore Woori four goals to two and go into the main break having reduced Woori’s lead to only seven points.
Second term and Woori once again outscored Healsville three goals to one to put their lead out to 17 points.
The last quarter was and even tussle, but Healsville just couldn’t control the football enough to chip away at Woori’s lead.
The last quarter result in both teams only kicking one goal a piece and Woori going on to win 10.5.65 to 7.6.48.
Best for Healesville H.Watkins, D.Plozza, B.Rutley, M.Renouf, K.Barclay, M.Jones.
On to our headline games of the day and first up was the A Grade netballers.
After a valiant effort against Mt Evelyn last week our A Grade girls were looking to show that they are up for any challenge and to proof that they can be competitive with all these Premier division sides.
This game also sees Keely Farrrow celebrate her 150th game for the Bloods.
Awesome achievement by Keely.
As a club we couldn’t be prouder of Keely.
Right from the start this game was looking to be a tight battle.
At the end of first term Woori had managed to just outscore Healesville to lead 13 to 9.
The rest of the game continued to be and extremely tight battle with Woori outscoring Healsville by just one goal in the second, the third even with 10 goals each and Healsville winning
the last by a goal.
Woori going on to win 43 to 39.
Great effort by Healesville and they have once again proven how competitive they will be this season.
Best for Healesville K.Ryan, K.Farrow, H.Blackney.
With a big crowd gathering and Healesville past players day celebrations well and truly underway, it was time for game everyone was looking forward to.
After a dream start to Healesville’s first season in Premier Division for several years this game against Woori, who have been such a consistent performer in the top level of football in the league, was going to be great test of where Healesville is at.
From the first bounce it was looking like being a tight battle.
Healesville probably had more than share of the football in the first quarter, but Woori proved to be more effective when they did have it and went into first break leading 2.0.12 to 1.06.
This trend continued in the next quarter and at main break Woori led 5.5.35 to Healesville 2.1.13.
The second half saw a determined Healesville again have a good share of possession but again struggled to make the most of this.
Although they were missing a few key players Woori showed why they are such consistent performers by sticking to their structures and playing disciplined, well drilled football.
In the end Woori ran out winners 10.8.68 to 4.5.29.
Its probably a bit of a cliché in football that you learn more from a loss than a win, but in this case hopefully it holds true and Healesville look forward to bouncing back against Monbulk next week.
Best for Healesville A.Biddiscombe, B.Murphy, P.Murray, N.Mende, T.Amarant, A.Dobbin.
