Monbulk exact sweet revenge

By Gary Wragg
MONBULK, still stinging from the shock loss to The Bulldogs earlier in the season, exacted sweet revenge over their nemesis at Monbulk to cement itself in the top three and dent Wandin’s hopes of a finals’ appearance.
Both sides sent patched-up teams into a game that began at a furious pace and the match maintained its momentum to the very last.
Wandin exploded out of the blocks to shock Monbulk with pace and hard running. Under instructions to play on at all times and with Rickard presenting well up forward, they matched the Hawks at the first change.
Monbulk retaliated in the second with a withering six minutes that produced five goals to send Wandin reeling. Key forwards, Langworthy and Wragg, kept the Dogs defence busy during a quarter that yielded 10 goals for Monbulk.
Wandin eventually reasserted itself under veteran Christiansen, King and Dudink, but Monbulk had now assumed control of the game through fine work from skipper Dunstan, on-baller Taylor and the resurgent Comfort on a wing. The Hawks eventually finished 61 point winners in a high quality encounter.
Monbulk 23.17.155 d Wandin 14.10.94.
Best: Dunstan, Clarke, Comfort, Mullinder, Creed.
Goals: Langworthy 6, Wragg 5, Comfort 4, Creed 3, Clarke 2.
Reserves
THE battle between second and third proved a fizzer as Monbulk completely blanketed Wandin from go to whoa.
Coen, Brooks and young Tate Seamer were in devastating touch for the Hawks and they did not allow Wandin a moment’s rest as Monbulk powered on unabated to a stunning 26-goal victory.
Monbulk 25.10.160 d Wandin 6.6.42.
Best: Coen, Arnott, Utting, Brooks, Mullinder.
Goals: Coen, Brooks 5, Fleming 4, Fraser Weisse 2.
Under 18
HEAVY fog restricted the first half to a mere 15 minutes of play which may have saved Wandin from further ignominy because the Hawks were in no mood to show mercy.
Monbulk took control through ruckman, Dean Cleven and the gifted Kieran Gray, who is pressing for re-inclusion in the senior side, while Tim Greaves, Daniel Munt and Justin Creed again made fine contributions in an even performance.
The Hawks are now a game clear in third place and are gaining great poise as the season progresses.
Monbulk 16.16.112 d Wandin 2.1.13.
Netball – A Grade
THE case of the jitters that plagued the Hawkettes for a month was well and truly put to rest with their second successive win on Saturday.
Monbulk disposed of Wandin in a welcome return to form – and ascension to third place – through great work from defenders Mel Whitworth and Renee Dekker.
Amy Belton and Jamie Sands are reproducing the form of last year in the ring, while dynamo Caroline Purchase and Jo Rutherford rounded off a great game for the Hawks.
Monbulk 33 d Wandin 21.
Best: M. Whitworth, R. Dekker, J. Rutherford, C. Purchase.
Goals: A. Belton 13, J. Sands 12, J. Rutherford 8.
B Grade
A BRAIN-explosion late in the game cost the Monbulk girls a vital win when they failed to defend a free throw on the final whistle, allowing Wandin to snatch an unlikely victory by a single goal.
Despite the best efforts of Kellie Utting, LeonieTaylor and Kim White, the Hawkettes could not shake a persistent Wandin – and as the game entered the dramatic final moments with scores tied at 31-31, Monbulk players thought they had won.
Wandin 32 d Monbulk 31.
Best: K. Utting, K. White, L. Taylor, E. Mullinder.
Goals: E. Mullinder 26, K. Mitchell 5.