By DAVID NAGEL
CRANBOURNE coach Simon O’Shanassy was left feeling a little empty on Saturday after his side came from the clouds in the final quarter but still went down 31-34 to Beaconsfield at Casey Fields.
With nothing working, and trailing 28-19 at the final break, O’Shanassy made some changes, throwing Carissa Rakip back into the midcourt, Alanah Hardy to goal defence and, for the first time all day, re-establishing Jess O’Hanlon and Monalisa Groom as his goal-scoring duo.
His moves worked and in blustery conditions the home side charged late but couldn’t rein in a nine-goal deficit at three-quarter time.
“It doesn’t matter how good we played in the final quarter, we can’t be giving teams a nine-goal start and expect to win,” the Cranny coach said from courtside after the match.
“It’s just where we’re at right now; we can play some great netball but just can’t do it consistently for four quarters.”
Kaitlyn Paligorov and Kaela Hughes were brilliant in defence for Beacy while Bianca Sanzaro with 24 goals and Andi Dickson with 10 combined well under the ring.
Cranbourne’s Mona-Lisa Groom provided the match highlight when she flung the ball back over her head, from mid-air, outside the court, with the ball going in without touching metal. She scored eight last-quarter goals to inspire the comeback.
A brilliant third-quarter burst has seen Hampton Park bounce back to the winner’s list, 60-45, against last year’s premiers Doveton at Robinson Oval.
The Redbacks came out firing on the weekend, with Kylie Kiddle’s side taking a six-point lead into half time, and icing the cake with an outstanding 20 goal to 11 third term.
Narre Warren warmed up for this week’s cracker of a match against Beaconsfield by toying with Tooradin, 73-17, at Fox Road.
The core of the Magpie-machine was at it again, with Chloe Phillips and Tayla Shannon combining well in attack and first-gamer Elly Stewart shooting well in the second half.
Demi Brettoner and Erin Clark were other outstanding contributors for the Magpies, while Michelle Barnes, Ebony Dolan and Tara Smith didn’t go down without a fight for the Seagulls.
Berwick is breathing a deep sigh of relief after outlasting ROC, 41-39, in the thriller of the round at Starling Road.
The experience of Sarah McDermott, Jodie Cranston and Lynne Moyes got the Wickers over the line in the end.
Pakenham had the bye.
