By DAVID NAGEL
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE PREVIEW – ROUND 11
ONE way or the other, Berwick is going to make a statement this week when it rolls out the red carpet for Hampton Park at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Lose, and the Wickers’ press conference might start something like this – “we just weren’t quite up to it this season….”
Or win…
“We’ve won three in a row now, we’re building towards our best netball and we truly believe we can match it with the very best teams in the competition.”
That’s what at stake here for Berwick, a loss that will see its season slip away or a win that could set it on the path to that elusive first premiership.
It’s going to be a tough ask but the Wickers have all the tools to get the job done.
They have a tough defence with Jodie Cranston, Rebecca Vickers and Claire Rottier; a talented midcourt that includes Sarah McDermott, Olivia Macente and Emily La Roche; and shooters such as Lynne Moyes, Emily Wilson and Amanda Goodie who expect success at each and every attempt.
And each attempt will need to be successful this weekend against the talented Redbacks.
Centre Sara Drain is in Team-of-the-Year form while Cathy Leeves and Zoe Ryde have covered the loss of star-shooter Emma Ryde with distinction.
The Redbacks will get home in a tight one.
Beaconsfield will be hoping to make amends for its round-three thrashing at the hands of Doveton when it makes the trip to Robinson Reserve.
The Eagles were torn apart that day losing 42-67 to the Doves in their worst performance for the year.
Since then they’ve been competitive against all opposition with their last two outings against Pakenham (43-43) and Hampton Park (37-38) showing they’re right in the mix this season.
Kaela Hughes, Erin Tippett, Kylie Baker and Hannah Blair will be fired up for this one and will provide the inspiration for redemption.
Narre Warren – fresh of the bye – will have its hands full on Saturday when Cranbourne makes the journey to Fox Road.
These two sides played out a thrilling draw in round one, the Magpies since going on an unbeaten run through the competition.
Monalisa Groom, Carissa Rakip and Natalie Sparks will give their all for the Eagles but the Magpies, with Tracey Dell, Erin Clark and Chloe Phillips in red-hot form, will be too strong at home.
An improving Tooradin will be out to post its first win of the season when it travels to Starling Road to take on ROC.
The Seagulls have been playing much better in recent weeks with Dayle Willis, Stacey Sawyer, Tara Smith and Alex Duff getting closer and closer to that elusive victory.
ROC has also been struggling in recent times itself with its round five win over the Seagulls being its last taste of success.
Alex Kilpatrick, Lauren Ward and Laura Quinn have been waiting for this game for a while and will help the Kangas to a drought-break victory.
Pakenham has the bye.
