By David Nagel
Garfield has taken a huge step towards playing finals netball this year after an outstanding third quarter led to a 42-37 victory over Kilcunda-Bass.
The Stars, seventh, are hunting the Panthers in sixth placing, with the round-16 showdown between the two clubs appearing to be the determining factor.
The Stars have now drawn level with the Panthers on eight wins, and have games against Tooradin-Dalmore and Warragul Industrials to come.
Let’s give the Stars the four points against the Dusties, meaning the Panthers need to win one of their last two games to get through.
With Nar Nar Goon and Tooradin-Dalmore on the horizon, it won’t be easy…with the Stars now favourites to play in an elimination final in two weeks’ time.
Scores were locked at 8-8 on the weekend, before the Stars put the hammer down through the middle stages of the contest.
With Chloe Bluhm (C) and Macy Newcombe (WA) running wild through the midcourt, the Stars scored 12-8 in the second quarter before dominating the third with a 13-4 score line.
Trailing by 13 at the final change, the Panthers rallied in the last…but the damage had been done.
Isabella Santorini (GS) and Tamika De Nardis (GA) caught fire in the last term, but it was all a little too late.
Inverloch-Kongwak has celebrated the 100th game of gun midcourter Lanni Pryor with a thumping 69-26 victory over its nearest challenger Tooradin-Dalmore.
Yes the Seagulls were missing players, through unavailability and injury, but the reigning champs decided to make this one a statement game.
“We’re building for finals” is what it said…and it’s going to take a mighty fine team to stop them.
Pryor was in dominant touch through the midcourt as the Sea Eagles raced out to a match-winning 15-4 lead at quarter time.
Pryor and Ella Sadler (WA) were providing great service to Kelly Boyd (GS) and Amy Scott (GA), with Scott scoring 54 of the 69 goals scored.
Some new names to A Grade like Summah Boyd (GD) and Jemma Barton (GK) did their best to control the onslaught.
Dalyston has chalked up the biggest win of the home-and-away season with a 103-12 victory over Warragul Industrials.
The Magpies were in no mood for niceties, particularly in the third quarter when they hammered home 27 goals to one.
The Dusties had no answers as Britt Thomas (GA), Alana McRae (GA), Siena Tiziani (GS) and Kathryn Scott (GS) all had stints in the circle.
Thomas dominated the scoring with 69 goals, with Tiziani (14), McRae (11) and Scott (9) all playing second fiddle.
Kooweerup is hitting form at the right time of year with the fifth-placed Demons making it three wins on the bounce with a 66-15 win over Bunyip.
Coach Kate Sidebottom (C) was once again in fantastic touch for the Demons, who extended a 32-9 half-time lead with a clinical 16-1 third quarter.
Alix Galante (WA) was another to win her position, while Nat Dijkstra (GD) and Keely Wright (GK) never gave up for the battling Bulldogs.
Phillip Island has made it back-to-back wins with a 63-41 success at Cora Lynn.
The Doggies were pushed by the Cobras in the first term, leading 14-11, but pushed the turbo button in the second quarter with a 19-8 domination.
Lily Mewitt (GS) was in great form in the second, scoring 16 goals alone, while Lexi Walton (C) had a solid game through the midcourt.
The Cobras have now lost eight straight, but will fancy their chances of breaking the drought when they head to Western Park to take on the winless Dusties this week.
Michaela Hoppner (GD) will head to that clash in fine form.
And there were no draws for Nar Nar Goon this week, with the Goon winning by 17 over Korumburra-Bena.
Both teams were slightly more aggressive than their round-11 engagement, with Steph Lee contributing nicely to the 65-48 score line.
The Goon heads to Bass this week, while the Giants are at home to competition front-runners Inverloch-Kongwak.
