Seagulls see off the Eagles

Rebecca Langford passes of to her Berwick team-mate Renee Gill against the Doves. 170799 Pictures: ROB CAREW

By David Nagel

SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 14
Tooradin-Dalmore has reminded everyone in the South East Football Netball League of its true premiership credentials with a gutsy come-from-behind victory over a brave Beaconsfield on Saturday.
The Seagulls were blown off the court by the fired-up Eagles in the first quarter, before regaining composure to triumph 45-42 in one of the games of the season.
The win keeps their minor-premiership aspirations on track, with a last-round visit to Narre Warren set to decide the number-one ranking ahead of finals.
The Eagles were brilliant early, relishing the return of Rylee Nelson (C) to the midcourt, they opened up a 14-9 lead at quarter time. Taylah Jencke (GK) and Dani Cameron (GD) were keeping the Seagulls goalers under wraps while Ash Gill (WA) and Kate Murphy (WD) were busy by Nelson’s side.
Tanya Mijovic (GA) and Bianca Sanzaro (GS) had the radar dialled in completing an outstanding team performance from the visitors.
They maintained their five-goal advantage at half time before the Seagulls, like great teams do, decided to lift the tempo when it mattered most.
The move of Sara Duncan to centre, and Alex Maher (GS) to the number-one target under the ring, changed the complexion of the match, the Seagulls cutting the margin to one with a 13-9 third quarter.
Maher scored 11 of her team’s goals, benefiting from the wonderful work of Jess Cox (GA), Emma Iacovou (WA) and Ebony Dolan (WD), while Bec Kinna (GD) raised her game in defence.
The Seagulls had the momentum and surged ahead with a 14-10 final term to claim a memorable victory. Coach Kelly Andrews will be delighted with the win, but will be fully aware that the Eagles pose a serious threat come finals time.
A classic September showdown looms large.
Another key player at the business end of the season will be Narre Warren, the back-to-back champions welcoming back some unbelievable talent for its 51-29 victory over Cranbourne.
Gabby Dwyer, Tayla Shannon and Chloe Phillips returned to the attacking end of the court, while Kara Hargrave shored up an already impenetrable defensive unit. The Magpies were brutal with their defence in the first half, allowing Cranbourne goalers Tegan Stahl, Alanah Hardy and Tahlia Coates just 10 goals to half time.
At the opposite end of the court, Dwyer (GS) was putting on a clinic scoring 14 of 15 goals in the second term to open up a 27-10 lead.
The Eagles won the third quarter 13-8 before the Magpies released the brakes scoring 16-6 in an emphatic statement.
Erin Clark (WD) continued a wonderful season for the Magpies while Sharni Lambden (GD) and midcourter Nat Sparks did their best to stem the tide.
Doveton is about to embark on the toughest run home of any team in the competition after a 59-41 victory over Berwick at Edwin Flack Reserve.
The fourth-placed Doves face Tooradin, Beaconsfield, Narre Warren and Cranbourne over the coming weeks, the perfect test ahead of finals.
But if even they lose all four the Doves look safe, with sixth-placed Hampton Park needing to upset either Narre Warren or Tooradin to seriously challenge for a finals berth.
The Doves looked a different unit with quality goaler Rahni Samason (GS) in their side, the VNL star scoring 45 goals for the afternoon. Her work was made easier by the great feeds of Liz Edwards and Hayley Stewart, while Mel Webster (GD) and Leah Seeto (WD) kept things tightly sealed in defence.
Berwick’s youngsters will learn a lot from the outing, particularly Madelina Nyoul (GK) who played the majority of the game on Samason, while Bec Langford (GD) and Renee Gill (WD) also worked hard to stop the flow.
Berwick and its coach Janine Kilmartin are really eyeing off the future, the Wickers blooding talented youth in A Grade while being highly competitive in the youngest two age groups in the league. All four of the Wickers’ 13-and-15 under sides currently sit top three in their competitions.
Another club with a promising future is ROC, who won its first game since round three with a 55-28 victory over Pakenham.
The Kangaroos have the most powerful junior set-up in the league, with their youngest four teams doing even better than the Wickers. They have three teams on top and one sitting second – some very promising signs for the future.
The Kangaroos dominated the contest for all but one quarter, when the Lions scored 12 to 13 in the second term. The Kangas gained great drive from Ash Barnett (C) in the middle, while Sam Neil (GA), Olivia Hamilton (WA), Mel Overdyk (GK) and Laura Quinn (GD) stuck to their guns for the full duration of the match.
The Lions remain winless, but players like Keely Wright (GD), Carly Saunders (GA), Christine Meyer (GS) and Katrina Meredith (C/WA) are trying hard to gain that first elusive win.
Hampton Park had the bye.