Bundoora 7 bounced back from consecutive defeats to pick up their first Division 8 victory in the 2024 Cleaning Melbourne senior winter netball campaign, defeating Hazel Glen 3 by 15 goals at Nets Banyule Stadium.
After a competitive opening term between the two sides, it was the Bulls’ second quarter that helped create some separation between the teams, scoring 10 goals to three to enter half time nine goals in front.
It would be an advantage they built on for the remainder of the match, going on to prevail 33-18 to pick up their first triumph since the second round of grading back in April.
Natalie Nolan returned to the Bundoora side and starred in the shooting circle with 28 goals for the game, with great feeds from the likes of teammates Julia Ferraro and Jacinta Tonkin assisting her dominance.
Mixing between centre and wing attack, Claire Dyson was energetic, using her speed to get down the court and position herself in advantageous spots around the shooting circle.
Hazel Glen were led by Michaella Mponda in the attacking third, who finished with 11 goals, meanwhile efforts from Milla McLean and Mia Taylor on the defensive end kept Hazel Glen in the hunt throughout the first half.
Both sides produced competitive starts to the game, with neither team able to get out to a comfortable lead. Bundoora’s Nolan and Hazel Glen’s Mponda were having no issues finding the net at each end of the court, with the duo producing 11 of the game’s first 12 goals.
The Bulls led by two goals at quarter time but were still challenged by Hazel Glen throughout the second term and only led by three goals with five minutes remaining.
But Bundoora were then able to get hold of the contest and went on a 7-1 scoring run in the final five minutes of the quarter to end the half on top and lead by nine goals.
The Bulls surge was led by wing defence Kara Barker and wing attack Jenny Newstead, who were prolific in maintaining the quick tempo of the match.
It allowed Nolan to have multiple good looks in the shooting circle, and she would go on to score all 10 of her side’s goals in the quarter.
In the third term, Hazel Glen did well to not allow their opposition to have the same burst, keeping Bundoora to six goals for the quarter while producing five of their own to only see the margin extend to 10 goals by the final break.
But the Bulls had one more strong quarter in them, keeping Hazel Glen to five goals in a quarter for the third time while producing another 10 goals of their own to finish 15-goal winners.
Bundoora now sit in sixth spot on the ladder are only outside the top four on match ratio despite having the same wins as fourth placed Kilmore 3. Meanwhile Hazel Glen are still searching for their first victory of the 2024 campaign.
