By Nick Creely
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 16
Well they’re in – Doveton and Cranbourne will be playing finals in 2018.
After a tense final month in which the Doves and Eagles jostled with ROC for fourth and fifth positions, the weekend’s action finally got the order sorted, but not without a few twists and turns.
Luckily for both Cranbourne and Doveton, ROC couldn’t quite topple ladder leaders Tooradin-Dalmore in a 44-40 blockbuster, resulting in the Kangaroos agonisingly missing finals by just two points.
The Kangaroos couldn’t have put in any more than they did, they were with the Seagulls all day but just didn’t have enough class when it matter to get the job done.
Alex Maher (25 goals) and Alex Duff (19) were dominant for the Seagulls, while Sara Villiers (33) took command for the Kangaroos in a sublime effort.
Down at Casey Fields, Beaconsfield toppled a desperate Cranbourne side, 42-35, with both teams getting a good hit out before finals.
In a great test for both sides, the visitors were made to work, and trial some new combinations ahead of the finals, and came away with a solid win.
Emily Kerr was a particular standout, impressive with her pressure and composure around the court, while Bianca Sanzaro found 23 goals in a brilliant effort.
Narre Warren also picked up a comfortable win against Berwick, 55-30 at Edwin Flack Reserve.
The Magpies were a class above from the outset, with Chloe Phillips once again starring with 30 goals, while the likes of usual suspects in Erin Clarke, Jemma Osborne and Brittany Mashado were all impressive.
Doveton also picked up a surprise loss but still managed to make the top five, with Pakenham finishing their season on a high with 43-32 win at AJ Robinson Reserve.
The Lions have had a knack of surprising highly ranked sides, and Saturday was no different, putting in a class defensive display to suffocate the Doves and pick up four points.
Kyra Esler and Taylor Dykstra combined for the 43 goals, but the likes of Lorna Clarke and Jenna Douglas did some super work in the mid-court.
As a result of the fascinating final round of the home and away season, Cranbourne and Doveton finished fourth and fifth respectively, and will play each other in an elimination final on Sunday at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Both teams have produced some high quality netball throughout the season, but could have been placed higher if not for inconsistency.
In a mouth-watering qualifying final on Saturday at Holm Park, Beaconsfield will take on Narre Warren in what is sure to be a fascinating match.
The Eagles have defeated the Magpies in both of their matches this season, with the premiership fancy providing trouble all around the court.
More impressively, the Eagles have conceded the least goals this season and have scored the second most goals, making them a tough opponent for the Magpies to conquer.
But at their best, the Magpies are a daring, attacking netball side who don’t take a backwards step. Expect nothing less when they front up on the weekend.
