Tigers continue faultless start, Hawks down Vultures

Meg Saultry

Hawthorn AFC put last week’s loss to the back of their minds to go on and defeat UHS-VU by 29 points at Rathmines Road Reserve on Saturday. It was the Hawks third quarter effort, where they kicked 4.5 and kept UHS scoreless, which created a lead that was too hard to catch. Penny Brown kicked four goals for the victors, doubling her goal tally for the season in the one match. UHS-VU’s Sarah Noonan kicked two of the team’s three goals, while Bianca Michetti impressed. Hawthorn looks back on track after its first loss last week, and move up into second position, only trailing the Tigers by percentage. For UHS-VU, the loss signals their fourth for the season, as drop to last place.  

The St Bedes/Mentone Tigers have continued their almost faultless season, subjecting Swinburne to a 39-point beating at Brindisi St Oval. The Tigers were relentless as they kept Swinburne scoreless for three quarters, and pressed forward in search of a target, with Eliza Cooper repeating her three-goal effort from last week. Olivia Steinfort produced a best on ground performance for the Tigers, while teammate Laura Summers was also among the best and has strung together three impressive games over the last three rounds. Ashlea Sidebottom was gallant for the visitors as their best. The Tigers have won their last four games to stay steady at the top of the table, while Swinburne remains in the middle of the pack in sixth, having missed all of their opportunities to take a big scalp of a top four team.

After a fortnight of impressive wins, South Melbourne Districts has stumbled, going down by 52 points to Ivanhoe. The game was over by three quarter time, as Ivanhoe consistently accumulated its lead across the match and went into the final term with an unbeatable 42-point lead.  Emily Johnson was Ivanhoe’s most prolific goal scorer, kicking three, but was ably supported by Rachel Mclean and Tahlia Day with two apiece. Anita Dolan was named best afield, while Sarah Kerr produced another impressive performance. Taya Rawson and Letizia Sammut were the two to break through to score South Melbourne’s two goals for the day. Ivanhoe moves up to third after the win, while South Melbourne drops to sixth position, and face a tough assignment against St Bedes/Mentone next week.

Therry Penola is back on the winning board after disposing of Canterbury Football Club by 24 points on Sunday afternoon to finish the round. The Lions will be ruing missed opportunities after kicking 4.15 for the game, but should be happy that the win drives them up the ladder, moving from eighth into fifth from the one result.  In front of home supporters at John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve, Therry’s Melissa Drew snagged two goals, while Bridget Costello and Eliza German were one and two in the voting for the second week in a row. Canterbury’s Mary Spillane battled hard to keep Canterbury in the game, finishing with match with a goal.  The loss causes Canterbury to drop into fourth place with a 4-2 record.