Monbulk hosted Berwick in a big day for the netball teams. Jamie Sands, currently playing in C Grade, became the first Monbulk player to reach the 250 game career milestone. She had been a member of the first netball team that the club fielded in 2005, and has now scored over 3500 goals, won the 2011 A Grade Best & Fairest and was a member of the only A Grade premiership that the club has won back in 2006.
A second milestone was also reached by Nicole Macdowell, the current A Grade captain, when she ran out for her 100th game for the Hawks. Nicole joined Monbulk in 2017 and won the 2017 and 2021 A Grade Best & Fairest Awards.
A Grade
Monbulk got out to an early break before Berwick pegged back the lead to just two goals at quarter time. After that the Hawks mostly controlled proceedings and were up by 13 goals by three-quarter time. Numerous rotations of positions in the final term invigorated the team further as they finished with a 16-7 term and ran out convincing winners.
Monbulk 61 def Berwick 39
Best: Nicole Macdowell, Paige Whitworth, Peri Reid
Goals: Peri Reid 51, Jen Dewhurst 10
B Grade
When Monbulk met Berwick earlier in the year they played out an exciting game where the Hawks came from behind to win a thriller. On Saturday it looked to be heading for a regulation win for Monbulk who had gotten out to a 20-11 lead by half time. Berwick fought back though in the second half and these teams again staged another enthralling contest where the Hawks hung on to claim a win by a single goal.
Monbulk 33 def Berwick 32
Best: Rihanna Kelly, Lisa Boyle, Alice McCormick
Goals: Paige Rondinella 27, Chloe Schmidtke 6
C Grade
The occasion of Jamie Sands’ 250th game drew the largest attendance in memory for a home and away match, with all vantage points taken around the court. The wind was at its strongest during this match and the blustery conditions played havoc at times. The sides shooting with the wind to the pine trees end would win each quarter. The Hawks had a one goal buffer heading into the final term but were unable to keep Berwick out and eventually went down by four goals in a low scoring match.
Monbulk 21 def by Berwick 25
Best: Tasha Selby, Tara Donald, Courtney Witt
Goals: Jamie Sands 16, Sammi Kelly 5
D Grade
This side continues to improve as the season progresses. Earlier this year the corresponding game resulted in a 48-7 loss. For the second week in a row the Hawks allowed their opponents to gain a significant lead by half time but then bounced back to win the second half only to still come up well short of the deficit. This week Monbulk won the second half 12-9, but the overall lead that they had conceded was too great to bridge.
Monbulk 21 def by Berwick 32
Best: Kate Smith, Hannah Dickason, Leah Hansby
Goals: Kate Smith 15, Jessica Steele 3, Hannah Dickason 2, Eireann Lawson 1
