Whilst the senior women were preparing to take on Upwey at Yarra Junction, with a grand final berth up for grabs, the rest of the club were off to Officer in the penultimate round of the home and away season.
First up was Healesville U18 boys.
With third spot on the ladder, and a second chance in the finals, up for grabs there was a lot to play for in this game for both sides.
With Healesville only having 17 players available this week, it was going to be a 16 a side game.
In the first quarter, both sides, whilst having their fair share of the play, struggled to have a big impact on the scoreboard, and at first break, it was Healesville 1.3.9 to Officer 1.1.7.
In the next quarter and the arm wrestle continued and whilst Healesville had three scoring shots to Officers two only the home side managed a major, and at the main break, it was Officer 2.2.14 to Healesville 1.6.12.
Third quarter saw neither side managed break away again and going into the last, it was Officer still just in front by three points.
The Healesville boys have been great under pressure in many games this season and have come up trumps in the last quarter on several occasions.
Unfortunately, for Healesville boys, the lack of number this week may have started to take its toll and with Healesville perhaps tiring a little Officer ran away with the game putting on four goals to Healesville’s one.
Final score: Officer 7.6.48 to Healesville 3.8.26.
Best for Healesville: A.Crossman, L.Senti, L.Warner, R.Bode, H.Green, M.Holland.
Over to the netball, first up was B Graders.
Taking on the top of the table side was always going to be tough day out for our ever-resilient B Grade girls.
This proved to be the case with Officer dominating the game in every quarter and in the end way to strong with final score Officer 115 Healesville 5.
As always though, the club couldn’t be prouder of this group that are so crucial to the future of Healesville’s netball program.
Next up was A Grade and having secured a good win over Officer last time, Healesville girls went into this game confident.
Healesville got of to a great start scoring seven of the first ten goals of the game before Officer even up the rest of the quarter, and at first break, it was Healesville 16 to Officer 12.
First five minutes of second was goal for goal until Officer put on a string of six unanswered goals to take the lead.
At main break, the score was Officer 31 to Healesville 28.
In the third quarter, it was Officer that had the better of play outscoring the visitors 16 to 7.
Healesville dug deep in the last and despite outscoring Officer 11 to 9, they couldn’t quite catch the home side.
Final score was Officer 56 to Healesville 46.
Best for Healesville: K.Ryan, M.Erickson, B.Erickson.
Back to football and next up was the Reserves.
With several players unavailable this week, few of Healesville U18 pulling up sore from their hard-fought game, the Reserves were reduced to just 14 players.
A big thanks to Officer who showed good sportsmanship and lent us two players for each quarter to make the game a bit easier.
As expected though, it proved to be really tough day for Healesville’s seriously undermanned Reserves line up with Officer completely dominating the game.
In the end, the score was Officer 23.16.154 to Healesville 1.2.8.
Best for Healesville: J.Bates, R.Sanders, L.English, L.Warner, M.Holland, R.Bode.
After the narrowest of wins over Olinda last week, Healesville Seniors came to Officer looking to continue the winning trend and consolidate their position in the top 5.
In the first quarter, it was Healesville with a two-goal lead before Officer scored a major in the dying minutes of the quarter.
At first break, the score was Healesville 4.0.24 to Officer 3.1.19.
In the second quarter, even battle continued but this time it was Officer with the extra goal over the visitors to reduce Healesville’s lead to just two points at the main break.
Third quarter saw the home side had the better of the play outscoring Healesville 3.1 to 1.3.
Score going into the last was Officer 9.3.57 to Healesville 7.7.49.
In the last quarter, with goals hard to come by it as Healesville with only major of the last, this wasn’t enough and, in the end, it was Officer with the win 9.8.62 to Healesville 8.8.56.
Best for Healesville N.Mende, B.Rutley, D.Plozza, D.Sikorski, T.Barclay, C.Bradley.
Over to Yarra Junction and it was the big game of the day with Healesville Senior Women taking on Upwey for a spot in the grand final.
The first quarter was a low scoring affair with Healesville not managing to get on the scoreboard but holding to Upwey to just 1.2.
In the second quarter, it was Upwey on the scoreboard first to get out to a 15-0 lead before Healesville finally managed to hit the scoreboard with a behind.
This must have been the kickstart the Healesville girls needed, and they went on to kick two goals in the latter half of the quarter, and at main break, it was Upwey 2.3.15 to Healesville 2.1.13.
The third quarter was Upwey winning the quarter by the narrowest of margins to increase their lead to three points.
In the last quarter, the difficulty in scoring for both teams continued and in the end it was Upwey with a behind being the only score for the quarter and they hung on for the win.
Final score was Upwey 3.7.25 to Healesville 3.3.21.
Well done to Healesville girls on great season they have done and the club proud of.
Best for Healesville: I.Stock, A.Caldicott, P.Pavic, M.Potter, B.Watson, K.Thomas
Next week back home for last game of the home and away season with all sides taking on Gembrook.
