By Justin Flynn
Inverleigh kept its slim Geelong & District Netball League finals hopes flickering with a 73 to 35 win against Bell Post Hill on Saturday July 13.
The Hawks are two games out of the top five, but with a healthy percentage. Only two wins separates fourth placed Bannockburn from eighth placed Inverleigh with four rounds remaining in the home and away season.
The Hawks set up their win in the first quarter when they raced to a 14-goal lead at the break and increased the margin at every change.
The Panthers broke even on the scoreboard in the final term with 14 goals apiece.
It was a great way to celebrate game number 150 for defender Teagan Madden.
Goalshooter Cassidy Nelson was on fire for Inverleigh with 64 goals while defender Adelaide Annand and Kelsey White were good contributors.
Wing attack Xenia Allen was Bell Post Hill’s best, Alexandra Smith was good at goal attack and Sarah Cushing did her job at wing defence.
Inverleigh takes on Thomson this week in a must-win game and then meets Corio in a tough one. Winless Geelong West awaits in the penultimate round and finals challenger Anakie rounds off the home and away season.
BELMONT inflicted Corio’s first loss of the season and kept its own finals hope alive with an 11-goal win. Sophie Allison was superb at goal defence for the Lions while shooter Angelique Ross found the net 47 times. Jorden Nichols (27 goals) and defenders Madyson Menzel and Sophie Trezise were best for Corio.
ANAKIE stayed in the top five with a 14-goal win against North Geelong. Goalkeeper Alice Egberts and midcourter Eden Mitchell were best for the Roos while Carli Rickman played well at wing defence and goalkeeper for the Magpies.
