By DAVID NAGEL
A DECORATED champion and three huge improvers will launch what will surely be an exciting finals series in Casey Cardinia netball this weekend.
Beaconsfield needs no introduction – the five-time reigning premiers have a record that will stand the test of time, while the emergence of Narre Warren, Pakenham and Cranbourne has added real lustre to this season’s competition.
Narre finished sixth in 2012, Pakenham eighth and Cranbourne last, proving things can be turned around in a hurry.
Saturday’s qualifying final at Berwick will see Narre Warren and Pakenham clash for the right to challenge Berwick in the following week’s second semi-final.
The Magpies and Lions have split bragging rights this year – the Magpies scoring a two-goal win at home in round nine while the Lions clawed their way to a 13-goal victory in last weekend’s final round of the season.
Both teams have real quality all over the court, the Magpies with players like Terri-Lee Brettoner, Erin Clark, Tracey Dell and Alice Gough, while the Lions lack nothing in comparison with Tenielle Palmer, Meaghan Cook, Olivia Hunt and Rachel Priestley.
The chance to move just one step away from a grand final will undoubtedly drive both sides, but the Lions, who haven’t lost a match since the end of June, will get home in a thriller by two goals.
CRANBOURNE face a huge challenge to get over finals specialist Beaconsfield in Sunday’s elimination final at Pakenham. Twice this season Beacy has been dominant over Cranny, scoring a 45-28 win at Holm Park Road in round six and then backing that up with a 26-8 victory, in blustery conditions, at Casey Fields in round 15.
Cranbourne has players like Melissa Perrins, Tayla Roth, Jess O’Hanlon and Tara Cecil who could cause the reigning premiers some headaches, but the class of Bianca Sanzaro, Mel White, Kaela Hughes and Danielle Cameron should see Beaconsfield comfortably into a first semi-final.
