DIAMOND CREEK extended its lead atop the Section 1 netball ladder, while Bundoora prevailed in a thriller.
Netball reporter Lauren Bordin was on hand to see the action at RMIT on Friday night.
CREEK EXTENDS LEAD AT TOP
Diamond Creek is sitting a game clear on top of the Section 1 netball adder following its 16-goal win over North Heidelberg at RMIT in Round 6.
Both sides put pressure on the opposition team’s shooters early, with each side having a goal disallowed due to held ball calls.
In the early stages of the quarter Diamond Creek seemed to hold most of possession, with its ability to get the ball back after turnovers ensuring mistakes didn’t prove costly.
However North Heidelberg had warmed up by the second half of the quarter providing a more even contest, eventually talking the lead by one-goal at quarter-time.
Bonnie Smith was substituted into goal keeper in the second quarter and made an immediate impact, with perfectly placed passes to Elle McDonald helping the Creekers get the ball out of their defensive third.
Diamond Creek put its foot down against its lower placed opposition in the second term, creating a seven-goal lead by the mid-way mark of the quarter, which it held entering the second half.
North Heidelberg showed patches of good play in the third quarter, as it had been doing throughout the game, but it couldn’t get any closer than six goals.
McDonald continued to play well in defence gathering several intercepts which the Diamond Creek shooters were able to finish off.
Again North kept pressing, but it was the Creekers’ ability to score goals quickly that helped Diamond Creek keeps it lead.
Kelly Sadowy and Elise O’Callahhan kept the goals ticking along for the Creekers, scoring 12 goals in the last quarter, to increase its final winning margin to 16 goals.
Final score: Diamond Creek (48) def North Heidelberg (32)
COMETS WIN THRILLER
Bundoora narrowly defeated Greensborough by two goals in a tight Section 1 clash on Friday night.
Inaccuracy cost Bundoora in the opening quarter as the ball spent plenty of time in the Comets’ attacking third for no reward.
However Bundoora was able to ensure it was never too far behind, constantly stopping the attempts by Greensborough’s defence to get the ball out of its attacking half.
Bundoora consistently didn’t allow the ball to go past the centre circle, allowing them to hold a narrow one-goal lead at half time, even though it could have been more.
A constant for Bundoora throughout the game was its good movement of the ball into the circle, which gave its shooters plenty of opportunities.
Greensborough used its pace to bring the ball down the court as Kate Cook shot well to keep the Boro on par with Bundoora for much of the quarter.
An even scoreboard at half-time was an accurate representation of how even the two teams were on court.
Greensborough stepped up its defence in the third quarter, forcing Bundoora to work harder to get the ball into its circle.
But the hard work of Nat Ognenis meant the Comets were still able to work the ball into their shooters.
The game got physical in this quarter with Bundoora’s Liz Edwards and Greensborough’s Taylah Watson receiving warnings for rough play.
It was in this quarter that Bundoora finally managed to break free and take a four-goal lead into the final term.
Bundoora’s defence, led by Edwards, kept Greensborough working hard to get the ball to its shooters.
Tensions continued to flare in Greensborough’s shooting circle, with Edwards forced to play on two players after goal keeper Hollie Wilson was sent off the court for three goals.
Although the Boro outscored the Comets 8-6 in the final quarter, Bundoora still managed to hold on, winning 31-29.
Final score: Bundoora (31) def Greensborough (29)
