By David Nagel
Beaconsfield has produced its most competitive performance of the Eastern Division One Women’s season going down 4.7(31) to 2.1(13) against Knox on Saturday.
The Eagles were desperate to get their opening win on the board, and kept the deficit to just seven points at quarter time, with Cassie Martin, Maddi Blackburn and Lauren Hojnacki relishing the slippery and slimy conditions and taking the game to Knox.
Emma Fergusson, Sammy Wilko and Natalie Taylor were also effective for the Eagles, who narrowed the gap by the smallest possible margin to make it six points the difference at half time.
Knox wasted its chance to finish the Eagles off in the third term, booting 0.3 to 0.0 as the wet conditions made ball handling almost impossible.
The Eagles were just nine points adrift at three-quarter time and in with a realistic chance of notching their first win on the board.
Beaconsfield did kick a fourth-quarter goal, but Knox replied with a stylish 2.3 for the term to run out 18-point winners.
Hojnacki and Lauree Metcalfe were the goal-scorers for Beaconsfield, who had Martin, Blackburn and Fergusson as their best four-quarter contributors.
All teams take a break this weekend before a four-week finish to the home-and-away season.
Beaconsfield, sixth, takes on East Ringwood (4), Donvale (1), Park Orchards (3) and North Ringwood (2) as it looks for its elusive victory.
Results R10: East Ringwood 4.5(29) def by Donvale 7.8(50), Knox 4.7(31) def Beaconsfield 2.1(13), Park Orchards 3.4(22) drew with North Ringwood 3.4(22).
Ladder: Donvale 34, North Ringwood 30, Park Orchards 26, East Ringwood 18, Knox 12, Beaconsfield 0.
Fixture R11 (Saturday 13 July): Beaconsfield (6) v East Ringwood (4), Donvale (1) v Park Orchards (3), North Ringwood (2) v Knox (5).
