Even without injured playmaker Zanna Woods, Ocean Grove proved too good for Geelong Amateur in the eagerly awaited top of the Bellarine Netball League ladder round 7 clash at Queens Park on Saturday.
After an even first half, the Grubbers’ tall defensive duo of Georgia Berry and Amanda O’Malley got on top of their shorter counterparts to run out 51 to 35 winners.
Woods broke a bone in her elbow against Barwon Heads in round 6, but didn’t realise it until much later in the week when she had it checked out. Coach Mel Holmes said the star goaler had already had two weeks off and should not miss an extended period of time.
“We didn’t find out until the Thursday (after the Heads game) because it just wasn’t getting any better,” Holmes said.
“She has broken both elbows before so it’s just a small fracture. I think she might miss another week or two, but we’re not expecting her to be out for too long.”
Scores were level at quarter time and Ocean Grove held a two-goal advantage at half-time before pulling away with mobile goalers Arlee Bennett and Ashton O’Brien leading the charge in Woods’ absence.
The difference between the two sides was goal accuracy. Grove shot 51 goals from 60 attempts whereas Ammos had trouble finding the net with 35 from 58.
“Arlee and Ash were outstanding,” Holmes said.
“They were faultless to be honest. And I guess we haven’t had a moving goal ring like that against them in the last two years. So that would have been different. Both teams had moving goal rings technically, but I feel like that was a challenge for them not really knowing those two (Bennett and O’Brien) together.”
At the other end of the court, Berry and O’Malley are forming a strong combination in defence while Gemma Bell was given the tough task at wing defence on Ammos’ coach Kaitlyn Sheringham.
“They were unbelievable – that was their best game yesterday,” Holmes said.
“I had Gemma on Kaitlyn Sheringham and she gave it a red hot go.”
Despite remaining undefeated, Holmes said neither side would take too much notice of the result with both expected to be there at the business end of the season.
“It was really close in the first half, so it’s good for both sides to have a look at each other,” she said.
“A lot of those (Ammos) girls we know, but it was good to see where we sat. It doesn’t hugely matter at this point, but we’re really pleased with the win.”
Ocean Grove now turns its attention to Drysdale this week.
The Hawks had former star Bell Park shooter Bree Cail line up for them on the weekend.
“They are probably a bit unknown,” Holmes said.
“It’s different going against Ammos because we sort of know them a little bit more so we’ll just kind of go again. We take the win, but reset and be ready to take on the next team which happens to be Drysdale.”
TORQUAY outlasted Drysdale with a five-goal win with Kiralee Collings dominant at centre and Kate Schippers excellent at goal attack.
AILISH Glennen was very good at goal defence as Barwon Heads got the win against Modewarre, 69 to 30. Macie Mortlock played well at wing defence while Grace Hunt did well for the Warriors at goal attack.
QUEENSCLIFF defeated Portarlington by 25 goals with defender Ebony Rolph and attacker Kaitlin Gladman best.
NEWCOMB went a long way to ensuring a finals spot with a six-goal win against Anglesea with Sarah Mulqueen and Jessica Duke best.
