By DAVID NAGEL
SENL
PREVIEW – ROUND 4
TWO genuine premiership contenders, Doveton and Hampton Park, will lock horns this week in one of the most intriguing South East Netball League games of the season.
The rise of these two sides has been well documented, the Doves rising from the ashes in 2013 to win last year’s title, while the Redbacks have taken a similar approach, investing heavily in what looks to be a similar campaign.
The Redbacks have Chloe Birch, Cathy Leeves and Zoe Ryde-Coad providing a solid foundation this season, while the Doves have Cara Humbert, Liz Edwards and Kate Murphy doing likewise at Robinson Oval. Both teams are crisp through the midcourt, providing goalers like Hampton Park’s Emma Ryde-Coad, who dominated for Victoria at the recent Under-19 National Championships, the opportunity to score heavily. We’ll tip the Redbacks to win in a thriller.
Narre Warren will need to be on its game when it hosts Tooradin at Fox Road.
The Magpies are looking strong under coach Jade Heinrich, but need to be careful of a Seagulls’ side that is struggling, but has a history of pulling one out of the box.
“We’ve got our set ups and strategies in place and I’m confident we can beat any team if we execute them well,” Jade said.
The Magpies will win.
How much has Cranbourne really improved? We’ll find out because Beaconsfield will provide the perfect litmus test at Casey Fields. Both teams have some really exciting youngsters, Cranbourne with teenagers Alanah Hardy, Natalie Sparks, Sam Kelly, while Beacy has Hannah Blair, Kaela Hughes and Dani Cameron learning their craft from some experienced campaigners like Bianca Sanzaro and Andi Dickson.
Beacy will win a tight one.
ROC hosts Berwick in another great indicator of just how far Scott Eastwood and his young Kangaroos can go this season. Berwick has the most settled line up in the SENL, with players like Emily Wilson, Lynne Moyes, Olivia Macente and Sarah McDermott rarely playing two bad games in a row, meaning they’ll be keen to atone for last week’s loss to Narre Warren. If the Wickers do lose this, they could face a one-four start to the season with a red-hot Hampton Park next on the horizon.
The Kangaroos’ midcourt of Amy Tivendale, Kylie Bradshaw and Gemma Stacey will need to be at the top of their games for the Kangaroos to get over the line.
It’s Berwick to win by two goals.
