By Jonty Ralphsmith
ROC will likely enter finals having to arrest a two match slump after a shock loss to Monbulk on the weekend.
Monbulk had the slight edge in each of the first three quarters, giving it a 10-goal lead at the final change, and ROC was unable to close the gap, losing 47-37.
The loss ends ROC’s hopes of sneaking into second place, and with the undefeated Narre Warren in the final round, it threatens to be a nasty momentum slip-up before finals.
Second-placed Olinda Ferny Creek had a massive fight on its hands not to succumb to the same fate as ROC, but its class shone through in the final quarter against Mount Evelyn.
Mount Evelyn led at quarter time and halftime, and it was a gridlock at three-quarter-time before Olinda Ferny Creek got on top to win by five goals.
Narre Warren, however, had no such troubles, affirming its premiership favouritism.
The visitors scored 45 goals to 21 after quarter time to consign Upwey Tecoma to a 28-goal defeat.
Woori Yallock held off a late charge from Pakenham at Toomuc Reserve.
Up by 10 goals at quarter time, Pakenham fought back to make it a tense arm-wrestle, but the home side ultimately came up three goals short, despite 33 goals from typical sharpshooter Rose Laidlaw.
Wandin also had a comfortable victory over bottom-placed Beaconsfield winning by 23 goals, with Abbey Gedge (42 goals) outscoring Beacy on her own.
DIVISION ONE
Seville was forced to overcome a five goal halftime deficit against Gembrook Cockatoo in a low-scoring affair, but eventually got up by seven goals.
Alanna Lennie, Cleo Minney and Emily Wicks were named in the best players for Seville, whose win was important to reignite momentum late in the season after a surprise draw with Yarra Glen last week.
Emerald easily accounted for Berwick Springs, extending the lead at every break to run out 15 goal victors.
Yarra Glen, meanwhile, also had a comfortable victory, beating Belgrave by 25 goals.
OUTER EAST NETBALL SCOREBOARD
PREMIER DIVISION – Round 17
A GRADE: Pakenham 53 v Woori Yallock 56, Olinda Ferny Creek 49 v Mt Evelyn 44, ROC 37 v Monbulk 47, Upwey Tecoma 31 v Narre Warren 59, Wandin 58 v Beaconsfield 35.
DIVISION ONE – Round 18
A GRADE: Gembrook Cockatoo 32 v Seville 39, Emerald 44 v Berwick Springs 29, Belgrave 32 v Yarra Glen 57, Berwick – bye.
PREMIER DIVISION
A GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Narre Warren – A 17 0 0 937 560 167.32 68
Olinda Ferny Creek – A 12 4 1 884 669 132.14 50
ROC – A 11 5 1 722 705 102.41 46
Wandin – A 11 6 0 745 697 106.89 44
Monbulk – A 10 6 1 776 735 105.58 42
Woori Yallock – A 6 11 0 806 857 94.05 24
Pakenham – A 6 11 0 650 693 93.80 24
Mt Evelyn – A 5 12 0 576 714 80.67 20
Upwey Tecoma – A 3 14 0 689 857 80.40 12
Beaconsfield – A 2 14 1 545 843 64.65 10
DIVISION ONE
A GRADE W L D F A % Points
Berwick – A 15 1 0 872 399 218.55 60
Seville – A 14 1 1 826 537 153.82 58
Emerald – A 10 5 1 724 636 113.84 42
Yarra Glen – A 7 8 1 637 614 103.75 30
Belgrave – A 5 11 0 600 799 75.09 20
Gembrook Cockatoo – A 4 12 1 613 752 81.52 18
Berwick Springs – A 2 14 0 426 792 53.79 8
