Magpies win a nail-biter

Georgie Douglas gives ROC some second-half drive against Tooradin. 170570 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By David Nagel

Stripping Narre Warren of its two-year reign as champions remains the biggest challenge to conquer after the Magpies stood strong in a gripping three-goal victory over Beaconsfield at Holm Park Reserve on Saturday.
Both teams went in to the top-three collision with some superstars missing from the court, the Magpies prevailing 43-40 to keep their minor-premiership aspirations well and truly intact.
The Magpies led by a goal at quarter time before a resurgent Beaconsfield took a three-goal advantage half way through the match.
The Magpies squared things away at the final break, leaving an epic final 15 minutes to decide the outcome.
The victor would become the clear challenger to Tooradin in the battle for top spot at the end of the home-and-away season.
“I think experience got us through in the end,” said a happy Narre Warren co-coach Greg Heinrich.
“Erin Clark is seasoned when it comes to these tough games and it was players like her that made sure we didn’t take the foot off the pedal at any stage in the last quarter.
“It was a physical game, it always is against Beaconsfield, but the contests were fair and it never got dirty. The players were aggressive, but they never lost that sense of sportsmanship and that was a credit to both teams.”
The depth of both clubs was fully tested, VNL duties leaving the Magpies vulnerable at either end of the court while the Eagles were impacted hard through the middle, missing dynamic duo Jasmine Jones and Rylee Nelson.
“It’s difficult with netball because we don’t have the volume of players on the court to test our depth on a weekly basis,” Heinrich said.
“In football, they can make six changes and the core of the group remains, but in netball it’s a different story. It’s really important to get that balance right, competing to win but at the same time making sure our depth is well prepared for when the time comes to step up.”
Goalers Jemma Osborne (GS) and Kealeigh Brown (GA) had big shoes to fill against the Eagles, with Gabby Dwyer, Chloe Phillips and Tayla Shannon all absent due to VNL duties.
“It was a great challenge for both of them,” Heinrich explained.
“Normally when one of those girls comes into the team they have an experienced player to help them through, but they got the job done taking full responsibility on the weekend.”
The Magpies reversed a three-goal loss to the Eagles in Round 3, which was followed by a Round 4 loss to Tooradin. Having won two premierships and 35 of their last 36 games, those losses stung the Magpies, but the experience of losing in a pre-season tournament held them in good stead.
“The pre-season tournament we played in was a great learning experience because we had some early losses but turned it around and finished off the tournament really strongly,” Heinrich said.
“Winning for so long questions start to fly when we had those two losses but, in the inner sanctum, we had the self-belief to get each other through. A couple of the girls really felt those losses, but they got over it pretty quickly.”
Clark (WD), Bec Potalej (WA) and Leigh Taylor (C) produced a strong second-half showing for the Pies, while Tracey Dell (GK) had a great battle with her long-time foe Bianca Sanzaro (GS), who scored 26 of side’s 40 goals.
Ash Gill (C), Kate Murphy (WD), Dani Cameron (GD) and Emily Boribon (GA) were also consistent over four quarters for the Eagles.
Cranbourne has broken its run of two consecutive draws with an impressive 51-35 victory Hampton Park at Robert Booth Reserve.
The win virtually assures the Eagles of a finals berth and has the Redbacks clinging to their hopes by a thread. The Redbacks need a stunning collapse from fifth-placed Doveton to have any chance of competing in September.
The Eagles built their lead steadily, from five to 10 by half time, to 13 at three-quarter time before extending to 16 by the final whistle.
Hayley Galpin, Jodie Holt and Allie Oakenfull played great defensive roles in the absence of Tara Cecil and Sharni Lambden, while Mel Perrins and Nat Sparks gave great drive through the midcourt.
Megan Cripps, Bev Miller and Bec Hall tried hard for the Redbacks, who have fallen short of expectations this season.
Berwick has held off a fast-finishing Pakenham to win 54-50 at Toomuc Reserve.
Itagia Amataga (GS), Emily Wilson (GA) and Emily Pratt (WA) got the Wickers off to a flyer, leading by four goals at the first break, before the Lions dug in for the fight.
With Renae Joiner (C), Carly Saunders (WA) and Keely Wright (WD) evening up the midcourt battle the Lions matched motors with the Wickers, scoring a dozen each in the second term.
Amataga put on a clinic in the third, scoring 14 goals as the visitors stretched their advantage out to nine at the final break. The Lions surged, scoring 15-10 in the last quarter to fall four goals short of a maiden victory.
Sarah Nash (C) was once again impressive for the Wickers, while Kyra Esler (GA) had a hot hand with 30 goals for the Lions.
And Tooradin has retained top spot with a 50-31 triumph over ROC.
The Seagulls were most impressive in the second term, scoring 15-4 to have the Kangas on the back foot. Shona Wells, Emma Iacovou, Jess Cox and Holly Gillespie shared the midcourt duties for the Gulls, while Alex Duff, Alex Maher and Dayle Willis did likewise in attack.
Laura Quinn (GD), Mel Overdyk (GK), Sam Neil (GA) and Olivia Hamilton (WA) were consistent performers for the Kangaroos, while Georgie Douglas (C) had an impact after half time.
Doveton had the bye.