Lions rolling along nicely

The Pakenham women’s team celebrates its big win over Yarra Junction on Saturday. 281131 Picture: SUPPLIED

By David Nagel

The Pakenham women’s team is celebrating back-to-back wins for the first time this season after the Lions scored a comfortable 8.8.56 to 2.3.15 victory over Yarra Junction at Toomuc Reserve on Saturday.

The Lions played their best football of the season against Seville last week, scoring an 84-point victory, but were second to the footy in the early stages of Saturday’s contest.

There was plenty of dew on the ground for the 8.50am start and the visiting Eagles adjusted to the conditions better with Michelle Goldsmith kicking the games’ opener.

But the Lions midfield soon got on top with Abbey Tognazzini competing well in the ruck and allowing rover Bianca Moody, centre Courtney Stephens, and ruck-rover Chloe Nagel to have a major influence around the ground.

Moody was everywhere for the Lions and kicked two goals in three minutes to give the home side the ascendency.

And when full-forward Cahli Parker soon kicked another, the Lions took a 14-point lead into quarter time.

Pakenham coach Rick Stalker had asked his girls to play team football prior to the match, and the Lions shared the ball beautifully with some fluent chains of handball in the first term.

But Yarra Junction tightened the screws in the second quarter with neither team kicking a goal, with Kayla Menere playing a great quarter for the Lions at full back.

The Lions stitched up the match in the third quarter…kicking 3.3 to 0.3…with Tayla Sbisa kicking two for the quarter and Moody kicking her third.

Sarah Connelly and Donna Monckton did some nice things on the wing, while Katie Sanders, Kate Flynn, Bec Domotor and Chelsea English worked well together in defence.

Moody capped off a great game, kicking two last-quarter goals, making it five for the match from the midfield.

Stephens was superb around the centre, putting her left foot to good use, while Nagel’s tackling pressure and creative handball set up many forward thrusts.

Goldsmith and Jane Radford never stopped trying for the Eagles, while Sarah Allsopp was super-effective for four quarters.

Pakenham heads to Olinda this week, for the second time in four weeks, to take on the undefeated Bloods, while Yarra Junction heads to Monbulk.

In other games from the weekend, Olinda Ferny Creek 11.5.71 proved far too strong for Belgrave 1.1.7, while Upwey-Tecoma remains in the top-three after a 4.2.26 to 0.3.3 victory over Healesville.

Emma Caccetta, Daniela Gisler, Jess Occhipinti and Corinna White all kicked goals for the Tigers, while star-midfielder Kiana Oates and Cale McNess had plenty of ball around the ground.

And Thornton-Eildon is celebrating its first win of the season after a commanding 8.9.57 to 2.6.18 victory over Seville.

Hilary Miles was the star of the show for the Kangaroos, booting four goals, while Catherine Hoinville was another star performer.

In Eastern Division 1, Beaconsfield has bounced back to the winners list with a 3.6.24 to 0.2.2 victory over Ringwood.

The Eagles jumped out of the blocks with a 2.3 to no score first quarter, and defended stoutly to control the match for the remaining three quarters.

OUTER EAST WOMEN’S

RESULTS – ROUND 6

Pakenham 8.8.56 v Yarra Junction 2.3.15, Belgrave 1.1.7 v Olinda Ferny Creek 11.5.71, Healesville 0.3.3 v Upwey Tecoma 4.2.26, Thornton-Eildon 8.9.57 v Seville 2.6.18, Monbulk – Bye.

LADDER

Olinda Ferny Creek, Healesville, Upwey-Tecoma 20, Pakenham 16, Belgrave 12, Monbulk 8, Yarra Junction, Thornton-Eildon, Seville 4.

FIXTURE – ROUND 7

Olinda Ferny Creek v Pakenham (10.30am), Monbulk v Yarra Junction (4.45pm), Upwey-Tecoma v Belgrave (4.45pm), Seville v Healesville (4.45pm).