First Division A Grade Netball
Olinda Ferny Creek 51 d Woori Yallock 27
OLINDA never looked too troubled in this game as it played a very structured forward style of play that it had obviously been working on over the summer, and it paid off handsomely.
Woori did battle hard but found it too hard to penetrate what was a very good Olinda defence.
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: Melanie Thomas, Dana Portarianos, Louise Conway. Woori Yallock best players: Peri Stewart, Ellie Stafford, Meg Stafford.
Belgrave 93 d Emerald 26
Belgrave has sent an ominous warning to all other teams early as it trounced Emerald by a massive 67 goals.
Belgrave was just too classy all over the court as it scored more than 20 goals in every quarter in one absolute dominating display.
The players didn’t let up and their best quarter was the fourth with 25 goals scored to just four to win emphatically.
Belgrave best players: Lauren Bennett, Angela Jeffrey, Carmen Timms.
Emerald best players: Lana Whyte, Sharni Campbell, Lauren Moses.
Monbulk Hawks 62 d Warburton Millgrove 19
Monbulk dominated this game after quarter-time and pretty much did what it liked.
Warby just didn’t have the defensive game to stop Monbulk’s scoring dominance.
Monbulk actually seemed to get better as the game went on and finished the game with an 18 goal-to-two in the last quarter to get its season off to a great start.
Monbulk Hawks best players: Emily Williams, Sophie Byatt, Brooke Northey.
Warburton Millgrove best players: Grace Barnard, Morgan Brumby, Mary McIntosh.
Upwey Tecoma 52 d Healesville 34
Upwey was certainly favourites to win this game but it certainly had to work hard to fight off a determined Healesville unit.
At the end of the day, it was the experience and calm heads that steadied Upwey everytime Healesville looked to threaten.
Upwey will certainly be happy with the win in what was a bit of a battle while Healesville will certainly take away a lot of positives from the game.
Upwey Tecoma best players: Krista Tomlinson, Teah Edelmaier, Melanie Walter.
Wandin 6 d Mount Evelyn 25
Wandin was just way too classy for Mount Evelyn as they ran rings around them.
Wandin scored 22 goals in a second quarter dominance while Mount Evelyn only managed three, and at the half it was Wandin by 28 goals.
The margin got out to 36 at the last change and then blew out to 51 by the end of the game as Wandin banged on 22 last quarter goals-to-seven to win with a great four-quarter performance.
Wandin best players: Tayissa Coppinger, Ella Priestley, Melissa Martinov.
Mount Evelyn best players: Eliza Beazleigh, Maddie Hickey, Jessica Walker.
Second Division A Grade Netball
Yea 37 d Kinglake 27
In what was a reasonably low scoring game, it was Yea that held sway throughout.
Kinglake was always in the game but Yea just had the answers when required.
In a game that didn’t reach any great heights for skill certainly made up for it with a dire battle between two sides looking for a big improvement in 2014.
Yea best players: Chelsea Spagnolo, Brooke Lloyd, Gaby Duncan.
Kinglake best players: Alex Mercuri, Elyse Coen, Monica Gill.
Seville 63 d Thornton Eildon 9
Thornton came back into the competition and was given a rude awakening by reigning Premiers Seville. Seville scored 63 goals in a complete four-quarter performance.
What was more impressive was Seville held Thornton to just nine goals and just kept denying them any scoring opportunity in what was a great defensive game.
Seville best players: Stacey Bell, Tania Hoare, Riley Gentle.
Thornton Eildon best players: Jessica Oakley, Alesha Davison, Anita Keddell.
Yarra Glen 82 d Alexandra 17
Yarra Glen got off to the perfect start with an easy win over Alexandra.
They scored 20 goals-to-five in the first and second quarters to lead by 30 goals at the half and be in complete control.
The second half was more of the same as Yarra Glen continued their dominance, scoring 42 goals-to-seven to win by a massive 65 goals and get their season off to a flying start.
Yarra Glen best players: Hillary Grubb, Georgia Taylor, Elizabeth Kay.
Alexandra best players: Emma Kidd, Lauren Steyger, Ashleigh Creighton.
Yarra Junction 67 d Powelltown 30
Last year’s runner-up in Yarra Junction got its season off to a good start with a very controlled 37-goal win over Powelltown.
Yarra Junction was never really troubled by its opposition as it moved the ball a lot quicker and cleaner as it kept stretching the lead as the game progressed.
Yarra Junction best players: Amanda Finn, Jenny Gardner, Cara Moore.