This week marked the start of the back half of the season and saw all Healesville teams, football and netball, off to Upwey to take on the Tigers on their home turf.
First up was Healesville U18 boys playing in the early 9.10am slot for a change.
The first quarter was relatively even contest with teams trading goals but Healesville managing to come out just on top to lead the home team 3.3.21 to 2.0.12.
The second quarter and the home team took control of the game kicking three goals while restricting Healesville to only two points.
At the main break, the home team back in front 6.4.40 to Healesville 3.6.24.
The third quarter was back to an very even contest with both sides only managing 1.2 a piece and the lead at three quarter time remaining at eight points in favour of the home side.
Into the last and with under 10 minutes to go the home side had increased their lead kicking two goal to Healesville’s one and leaving the visitors with some work to do to get back in the game.
In a great show of composure under pressure the Healesville boys dug deep and put on the next three goals in quick succession to hit the lead.
In the dying minutes of the game Upwey had the ball in their forward line and when a shot on goal was just touched by a very composed Healesville defensive line all Healesville had to do was hold possession for to take the victory.
This they managed to do to for a great hard-fought victory.
Final score Healesville 8.10.58 to Upwey 8.7.55.
Best for Healesville: Gideon Houlihan, D.Sikorski, E.Yates, L.Senti, S.Anderson, J.Hume.
Next up was Healesville senior women looking to turn the result around from round 1 where Upwey won by 15 points.
First quarter was a tough even battle with both side failing to score a major with Upwey just in front at first break 0.3 to 0.2.
The second quarter was much of same with a tight contest but both side did manage to get their first major on the board but Healesville just managing to get the nose in front, and the score at the main break was Healesville 1.4.10 to Upwey 1.3.9.
The third quarter again saw and extremely tight contest with neither side managing to get any ascendancy and going into the last the scores were all tied up at 2.4.16 each, and it was all set up for a great last quarter.
Unfortunately for Healesville, Upwey took control of the game in the last quarter holding Healesville scoreless while putting two goals three behinds to take victory by the same 15 point margin as round 1.
Upwey 4.7.31 Healesville 2.4.16.
Best for Healesville: B.Watson, A.Caldicott, M.Coleman, K.Thiomas, S.Morris, M.Cameron.
Following on from the women it was our reserves taking on top of the ladder Upwey.
Healesville boys knew this was going to be tough game but with a host of senior players back on deck, the team was hoping to be a bit more competitive than the previous few weeks.
As Healesville would expect from the undefeated and very well drilled Upwey outfit, the home side took complete control of the game from the first bounce and at half time they were in complete control hold Healesville scoreless while piling on the goals.
At the main break, Upwey 12.7.79 to Healesville 0.0.0.
The third quarter and finally Healesville boys showed the type of football they are capable of and matched it with Upwey for the whole quarter kicking 3.4 to Upwey’s 3.2.
In the end though, Upwey went up another gear in the last quarter piling on another nine goals to run away comprehensive victors 24.12.158 to Healesville 3.5.23.
Hopefully the Bloods can keep all these players on the field for the rest of the season, and they will get better and better with more game time together.
Best for Healesville: d.Plozza, M.Holland, D.Ebbels, Gideon Houlihan, L.Neumann, J.Bates.
Over to the netball and first up on court was our battling but forever resilient B grade ladies.
Another tough day on court for the Healesville outfit with Upwey controlling every quarter.
Once again though credit to Healesville girls that continue to work hard and get better every week.
Final score Upwey 71 Healesville 19 reducing the winning margin considerably from when we played Upwey in round 1.
Best for Healesville: E.Birch, E.Roberts, Z.Vandenbroeck.
Next up on court our A grade ladies looking to continue on their winning way after coming away victors in their last two outings.
The first five minute of the game saw sides go goal for goal before the Healesville girls got a real run on scoring eight of the next nine goals to open up a good lead and go into the first break leading the home side 18-13.
The next quarter saw Upwey more in control outscoring Healesville 12 – 9 for the quarter and bring Healesville’s lead back to just two goals at the halfway point.
In similar fashion to the first quarter, Healesville managed to get a run of six goals out seven scored in the middle of the quarter to get the lead back to five goals at three quarter time.
Last quarter and Upwey came firing getting the first three goals to reduce the lead back to two.
Next few minutes of play went pretty much goal for goal before Healesville again put together a few minutes of complete control putting on five unanswered goals to extend their lead to seven with around seven minutes left in the game.
Upwey came home strong but, in the end, Healesville remained composed to hang on to win by two goals.
Final score Healesville 53 Upwey 51.
Yet again Healesville girls proved their competitiveness at Premier level.
Best for Healsville: B.Erickson, H.Blackney.
Back at the football and last game for the day.
After getting back in the winners circle last week, Healesville senior men were looking to continue this trend and consolidate their spot in the top half of the ladder.
In the first quarter, Healesville took control of the game scoring 4.2 goals and restricting Upwey to only two behinds.
In the second quarter, again Healesville had more then their share of play again outscoring the home side to lead at the main break by 42 points.
Healesville 10.3.63 to Upwey 3.3.21.
In the third quarter, Healesville got the first goal within 30 seconds but then as has been the case in several games the Healesville boys got lost their intensity for a period of time and Upwey had 10 of the next 12 scoring shots for the quarter to win the quarter 5.5 to 3.0.
Healesville got back on track in the last finally going on to win 18.4.112 to Upwey 12.10.82.
Healesville got better as a playing unit each week just need to work on doing it for all four quarters and will continue to be very competitive back at Premier level.
Best for Healesville: J.Newsome, P.Murray, B.Murphy, A.Biddiscombe,R.Cameron.
After not having played at home since before the long weekend, the Bloods are looking forward to getting back on home turf for the next couple of weeks.
Next week at home against Emerald.
