By Nick Creely
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 8
The sign of a good side is when they have the ability to simply flick a switch when they need to.
For Tooradin-Dalmore, they not only flicked a switch, but they played the most devastating team game so far this season.
The Seagulls are undefeated, but haven’t appeared out of cruise mood, until now at AJ Robinson Oval on Saturday against a Doveton side that never gives in.
The 27-71 final scoreline tells you everything you need to know, the Seagulls are flawless defensively, and they have the ability to pile on goals like no other side in the South East Football Netball League competition.
Alex Duff (21 goals), Alex Maher (31) and Jess Cox (19) combined superbly making life difficult for a Doves defence that didn’t have an answer.
Down at Edwin Flack Reserve, ROC jumped its way back into fifth spot with a cruisy win over the struggling Berwick, 29-54.
The Wickers are yet to taste victory in 2018, and never looked likely against the Kangaroos, who played solid team netball to get the desired result.
As a result of the win, the ‘Roos displace Doveton in fifth, in a position that has shifted almost on a weekly basis.
Bianca Sanzaro, meanwhile, was the star of the show in a massive win for Beaconsfield over Cranbourne at Casey Fields, ending the four game winning streak of the Eagles, 34-44.
Sanzaro was dominant with 24 goals, providing an electric attacking presence for the visitors, keeping Beaconsfield with a strange hold over second spot in what could be looked as one of the more important results of the season.
In the final game of the round, Narre Warren flexed its muscles to knock off Pakenham at Kalora Park, 52-35.
The Magpies – who sit in third spot on the SEFNL ladder – were well served by a masterclass by Jemma Osborne (34 goals) in attack, while the likes of Erin Clark, Kealeigh Brown and Chloe Phillips were superb all game.
For the Lions, the dynamic Taylor Dykstra kept her consistent season going with a 16-goal effort, while the likes of Kyra Esler (19 goals) and Lorna Clark were once again prominent.
Looking ahead to Round 9, and Beaconsfield has a chance to further cement itself in the top-two in a clash with Berwick.
The Eagles can push on and gain some considerable percentage in the clash, with the Wickers hoping for a win against the odds against their greatest rivals.
Down at Kalora Park, a belter between Narre Warren and Cranbourne looms, with both sides desperate to keep in touch with the top-two.
The Magpies and Eagles enter the clash in red hot form, and both stack up pretty evenly, with the home side conceding on average just 40.5 goals a game, while the Eagles have proven they one of the best defensive sides in the competition, averaging just 39.2 goals per match.
If Jemma Osborne can get a hold of the Eagles’ defence, the Magpies should walk away with the win.
In the final two games, Pakenham hosts Doveton at Toomuc Reserve, in a must-win clash for both teams, while Tooradin-Dalmore returns to their fortress with a home clash on the Westernport against ROC.
