By Jonty Ralphsmith
Narre Warren has defeated second-placed Olinda Ferny Creek to firm itself as premiership favourites.
Narre is still yet to lose this season and the visitors never seriously looked like threatening, falling four goals behind at quarter time.
The hosts maintained a slight ascendancy throughout the contest, eventually running out 12-goal victors.
Perhaps a silver lining for Olinda Ferny Creek, though, is that it kept Narre to just 43 goals for the entire game, a strong defensive effort and 11 goals below Narre’s average score.
Third-placed ROC was made to work to overcame Mount Evelyn.
ROC trailed at quarter time before turning the tide in the second and third quarters to be up by 10 goals going into the last stanza.
But Mount Evelyn was gallant, though unable to overcome such a large deficit against a quality opposition, falling short by five goals.
Pakenham was unable to get the win in its first game at a renovated Toomuc Reserve.
Up by a goal at quarter time, Wandin’s supremacy shone through after that, with a 15-goal to seven second quarter decisive in the 11-goal victory.
For Pakenham, Caitlin Cooke, Teneille Morrell and Eliza Molino were named the best players.
Monbulk was always on top against Upwey Tecoma, winning by eight goals, with star scorer Stephanie Puopolo responsible for 42 goals.
And a 46-goal effort from Elizabeth Murphy helped hosts Woori Yallock overcome Beaconsfield.
The home side led at every change and despite Beaconsfield getting within four goals at three-quarter-time, Woori Yallock was able to pull away late.
DIVISION ONE
Seville was challenged and surprisingly unable to overcome fourth-placed Yarra Glen, with the two sides playing out a 44-44 draw.
Yarra Glen led by six goals at halftime, but Seville clawed its way back, within three at three-quarter-time before the match ended in a gridlock.
The draw is unlikely to have ramifications for Seville, which remains well clear of Emerald in second spot, and still in a position to overtake Berwick should it win the top-of-the-table clash in two weeks’ time.
For Yarra Glen, the result has more bearing as it moves the club a game and a half clear of sixth-placed Gembrook Cockatoo.
Top-placed Berwick was hosted by Berwick Springs on the weekend and after keeping the home side to just four goals in the first quarter, eased itself to a 23-goal victory.
Captain Emma Clarke, and Emma Pupuke scored 24 and 25 goals respectively for the ladder-leaders.
In the other Division One game, Emerald was always on top of Gembrook Cockatoo, winning by 15 points.
PREMIER DIVISION
A GRADE: ROC 49 v Mt Evelyn 44, Narre Warren 43 v Olinda Ferny Creek 31, Monbulk 48 v Upwey Tecoma 40, Pakenham 35 v Wandin 46, Woori Yallock 66 v Beaconsfield 56.
DIVISION ONE
A GRADE: Yarra Glen 44 v Seville 44, Gembrook Cockatoo 38 v Emerald 53, Berwick Springs 26 v Berwick 49, Belgrave – Bye.
PREMIER DIVISION
A GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Narre Warren – A 16 0 0 878 529 165.97 64
Olinda Ferny Creek – A 11 4 1 835 625 133.60 46
ROC – A 11 4 1 685 658 104.10 46
Wandin – A 10 6 0 687 662 103.78 40
Monbulk – A 9 6 1 729 698 104.44 38
Pakenham – A 6 10 0 597 637 93.72 24
Woori Yallock – A 5 11 0 750 804 93.28 20
Mt Evelyn – A 5 11 0 532 665 80.00 20
Upwey Tecoma – A 3 13 0 658 798 82.46 12
Beaconsfield – A 2 13 1 510 785 64.97 10
DIVISION ONE
A GRADE W L D F A % Points
Berwick – A 15 1 0 872 399 218.55 60
Seville – A 13 1 1 787 505 155.84 54
Emerald – A 9 5 1 680 607 112.03 38
Yarra Glen – A 6 8 1 580 582 99.66 26
Belgrave – A 5 10 0 568 742 76.55 20
Gembrook Cockatoo – A 4 11 1 581 713 81.49 18
Berwick Springs – A 2 13 0 397 748 53.07 8
