By JUDY ORREN
Division 1 Seniors
Healesville 13.13 (91) d Olinda Ferny Creek 7.12 (54) (Preliminary Final)
Healesville will play off in the grand final against Wandin next week and will go into the game with plenty of confidence after a very commanding 37-point victory over Olinda in the Preliminary. Healesville led at every change of this clash and even though they never really dominated, they were always on top throughout the game. Healesville led by just one goal at the first change, and increased that to 15 points by half-time, but it was the third term that saw Healesville kick away. They got right on top defensively and held Olinda to just two behinds while they added 3.3 to jump out to a 34-point lead at the final change. The last quarter was an even enough battle, and Olinda did fight it out but Healesville still had the edge with a 4 goal to 3 term to win well and move into the grand final.
Healesville best players: D. Anderson, C. Adams, P. Fermanis (1 goal)
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: D. Rohrmann (1 goal), S. Horner (1 goal), J. Wallis
Division 1 Reserves
Mount Evelyn 12.8 (80) d Wandin 7.9 (51) (preliminary final)
This game was a beauty for three quarters with neither side able to break away. Wandin led by just three points at quarter time with both sides only managing 1 goal apiece. The second term was a little more free flowing as goals started to come with Mount Evelyn having the slight edge, booting 4 goals to 3 to take a three-point lead into the main break. The third term was another tough hit out with both sides scoring two goals which gave Mount Evelyn a one-goal lead at the final break. Mount Evelyn played a fast running brand of football in the last term and finished strong as they slammed home 5 last quarter goals to 1 to pull away late and record a very impressive 29-point win. They will now take on Upwey in the grand final for the ultimate glory.
Mount Evelyn best players: D. Broadway (1 goal), D. Cope (2 goals), J. Arthur (2 goal)
Wandin best players: J. Ladner, M. O’Donohue, M. Shanks
Division 2 Reserves
Yarra Junction 6.5 (41) d Emerald 4.6 (30) (grand final)
Yarra Junction played Emerald in the 2nd Semi Final two weeks ago and went down by 23 points, but bounced back to pull off the most important victory to become 2015 Premiers. This game was a low-scoring affair, with neither team able to string goals together to get any sort of decent break. The first quarter was about the only quarter that saw a little bit of open play with Yarra Junction booting 3.3 (21) to 2.1(13) to take the early lead. The second and third quarter were both torrid slogs with both teams only adding two goals to their total which saw Yarra Junction leading by just one goal at the final change. The last term was more of the same as scoring was almost impossible, but it was Yarra Junction that broke through to kick the only major of the term which was enough for them to hold on and win by 10 points and celebrate premiership victory.
Yarra Junction best players: A. Ward (Winner of the ‘Best on Ground’ medal), B. Charman, C. Hoare
Emerald best players: M. Steer, W. Ladner, N. Williams
Under 18s
Wandin 10.11 (71) d Upwey Tecoma 6.14 (50) (preliminary final)
Wandin has had a great finals series, and it continues as they have advanced to the grand final after a great win over Upwey. Wandin was held goalless in the first term and could only manage four behinds but Upwey only slotted 1.4 to lead by just one goal at the first change. Wandin went hard at every contest in the second term and won the contested battles around the ground, which showed on the scoreboard as they booted 4 goals to 1 to lead by 11 points at the main break. The third quarter did see Upwey start to win more of the ball but they wasted their chances, kicking 2.6 to Wandin 2 straight, which gave Wandin a one-goal lead going into the final quarter. Wandin finished the day looking the fresher as their running game came to the fore. They finished the day booting 4 goals to 2 to win by 21 points, and will now take on Healesville in the grand final next week.
Wandin best players: M. Sandfort, D. Alexander, J. James.
Upwey Tecoma best players: B. Oates (1 goal), A. Milner, S. Shineberg.
Healesville 12.16 (88) d Olinda Ferny Creek 5.8 (38) (preliminary final)
Healesville started well with a 4 goal to 1 opening term to open up a handy 21-point lead at the first change, but Olinda switched on in the second term and hit back booting 3 goals to 1 to trail by just 8 points at half-time. Healesville really did have control in the third term as they held Olinda scoreless, but they were a bit wasteful as they booted 3.7 for the term, but it was still a handy 33-point lead to Healesville at three-quarter time. Healesville remained in control in the final term as they booted 4 goals to 1 to come away with a comfortable win and will go into next week’s grand final against Wandin in fine form.
Healesville best players: L. Oliver (1 goal), R. Howard-Scales, S. Fisher (4 goals)
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: B. Watson, B. Currie, L. Taylor
Division 1 A Grade Netball
Wandin 34 d Yarra Glen 21 (preliminary final)
Wandin was dominant early in this game as they defended superbly, holding Yarra Glen to just three goals in the first half while they slotted 19 to have a commanding 16-goal lead at half-time. To Yarra Glen’s credit, they did fight the game out in the second half and, in fact, outscored Wandin but they just couldn’t make too much of a dint into Wandin’s lead to be of any real threat. Yarra Glen scored 18 second-half goals to 15, but it was Wandin’s dominance early that set up their victory and they’ll go into next week’s grand final against Olinda feeling pretty good about their form.
Wandin best players: Tayissa Coppinger, Gabrielle Sinclair (22 goals), Ella Priestley
Yarra Glen best players: Nicole Moate, Peta Fay, Alana Stone
Division 1 B Grade Netball
Wandin 51 d Olinda Ferny Creek 43 (preliminary final)
Division 1 C Grade Netball
Olinda Ferny Creek 33 d Mount Evelyn 30 (preliminary final)
Division 1 D Grade Netball
Wandin 26 d Warburton Millgrove 16 (preliminary final)
17 & Under Netball
Warburton Millgrove 16 d Yea 15 (grand final)
Division 2 A Grade Netball
Seville 43 d Yea 34 (grand final)
Division 2 B Grade Netball
Yea 31 d Emerald 30 (grand final)
Division 2 C Grade Netball
Seville 28 d Yea 26 (grand final)
Division 2 D Grade Netball
Seville 19 d Yea 7 (grand final)
