Under 19s
Overnight rain cleared just in time for the early 9am start of the match as both sides had full teams and were evenly matched. Monbulk made better progress into the forward line in the opening quarter and held a handy 15 point lead in the slippery but firm conditions. The predicted showers returned for the second quarter and it became a hard slog as both sides had plenty of numbers around the ball. For the next two terms Monbulk managed just five behinds and Seville a solitary point as the margin slowly crept to 19 points. Monbulk failed to score a goal after quarter time as Seville led numerous attacks in the final quarter and kicked two goals to draw within a kick but the Hawks held on to grab a nail biting win by four points.
Seville 3.5.23 def by Monbulk 3.9.27
Best: Ben Smith, Riley Finlay, Nick Taylor, Hamish Strathairn, Noah Rutherford, Mackenzie Rouget
Goals: Charlie Barge 1, Lochie Smith 1, Josh Wentworth 1
Women
The Monbulk girls travelled to Berwick Springs to play the Titans for the second time this season. They were again short on numbers and four late ins were cancelled by four players pulling out. While scoring has been minimal this year, they have still applied pressure right through their matches. By half time they were only 15 points down but that was also helped by Berwick being a little inaccurate with 1.10 on the board. In the second half the Titans managed to add another five goals and this saw the margin blow out to 47 points by the final siren.
Berwick Springs 6.12.48 def Monbulk 0.1.1
Best: Genna Seamer, Maddie Caarels, Molly Licciardi, Jade McCormick, Hannah Joy, Lisa Boyle
NETBALL
A Grade
The Monbulk netballers had their first ever encounter with Berwick at Edwin Flack Reserve. Berwick are a stand alone club in the Outer East competition after their footballers joined the Eastern League. Berwick were a game ahead of the Hawks on the ladder but you wouldn’t have known that in the first quarter as Monbulk put on a scintillating start to lead 17-7 in what looked like a clinic. This was on the back of Tiana Mancarella, Paige Whitworth and Georgia Himmelreich making about 10 intercepts for the opening term. Berwick clawed their way back into the match in the second term as the Hawks missed numerous passes which caused turnovers. Monbulk steadied in the last quarter as they regained their radar and Peri Reid was a dominant focal point in her second game for the club while Jen Dewhurst ran amok in the mid court.
Berwick 39 def by Monbulk 51
Best: Georgia Himmelreich, Jen Dewhurst, Tiana Mancarella
Goals: Peri Reid 48, Sophie Stubbs 3
B Grade
The B Grade game had similarities to A Grade. The Hawks had a strong 12-eight opening quarter after conceding a couple of early goals. Berwick then hit the front by half time and were controlling general play to hold a 5 goal lead, and all the momentum, by the final change. The Hawks then put in one of their best quarters for the year to wipe out the five goal deficit in just a few minutes. An arm wrestle then ensued and it was goal for goal for about 7-8 minutes before Paige and Dayna nailed a series of long shots while the defence completely shut down their opponents.
Berwick 44 def by Monbulk 48
Best: Rihanna Kelly, Chloe Schmidtke, Georgia Wilson
Goals: Paige Rondinella 31, Dayna Walsham 17
C Grade
Berwick is in the Top four in C Grade and were just a little more consistent across the game than the Hawks, who put up a good show but weren’t able to capitalise on the opportunities.
Berwick 46 def Monbulk 34
Best: Sammi Kelly, Jamie Sands, Jess Whitworth
Goals: Jamie Sands 20, Sammi Kelly 8, Abbey Hardwick 6
D Grade
The scoreline might have shown a one-sided result but the effort shown throughout the match never diminished. Hannah Dickason’s play was a highlight as she threw herself at everything, while standing a much bigger opponent, and then ran to create play around the court. Often it was just a height advantage or a bit of experience that proved the difference and the Hawks were punished by the turnovers.
Berwick 48 def Monbulk 7
Best: Bronte Passingham, Hannah Dickason, Kate Smith
Goals: Kate Smith 5, Eireann Lawson 2
