Accurate St Mary’s & Hampton as the top four is all square

Richmond Central 3.8 (26) def Beaumaris 2.2 (14)

Richmond Central have knocked Beaumaris out of the top four after a strong four-quarter performance at Kevin Bartlett Reserve.

The Snakes showed why they are one of the best defensive teams lately, restricting the Sharks to just five scoring shots for the game.

This pressure started in the first quarter and was led by Richmond’s Susannah Rennie, whose slick skills helped award her best on ground honours.

The Snakes were able to keep the Sharks at arm’s length all day, kicking some important first half goals and building scoring shots aplenty.

Beaumaris’ Amy Pearce did her best to keep her side in the game, as did skipper Jaz Farrow, but it wasn’t enough as Richmond Central ground out a much-needed win.

Erin Eldon led the way again up forward for the Snakes with two goals, taking her season tally to 15, as her side stays on top of the ladder and the Sharks go to fifth still clinging on to a top four finish.

MCCFC 2.10 (22) def by St Mary’s Salesian 8.1 (49)

St Mary’s Salesian’s elite accuracy was the difference in this one, in what could have been a much closer game.

Finishing with more scoring shots, MCC will be frustrated they let this one go and it shows how close this competition is with seventh on the ladder really pushing the second placed side.

Amazingly, eight of the Saints’ nine scoring shots were goals in this one, with captain Holly Wilson slotting her first two-goal haul of the season.

The contest around the ground was extremely even, but St Mary were simply more composed, in front of the big sticks.

MCC’s Anna Harris kicked two goals in her season debut and Ellen Pratt fought hard all day, producing her third appearance among the home team’s best players.

MCCFC will take confidence from this game and belief that they can still climb the ladder, while St Mary’s Salesian are holding onto second place with De La Salle and Beaumaris lurking right behind them.

Hampton Rovers 4.3 (27) def UHS-VU 2.9 (21)

This Division 2 Women’s match was also decided by accuracy, as Hampton downed UHS-VU by a mere six points.

UHS clearly had more scoring shots through the first three quarters in this one, but the Rovers kicked one straight goal those terms to help them lead for the majority of the match.

Some strong clearance work did help UHS gain the lead at three-quarter-time, but the Rovers produced their best quarter of the game to finish strongly and get the win.

Grace Bonanno was clutch in front of goal, kicking two of Hampton’s four goals and their spirited performance was really led by Zoe Hewlett who was named best on ground.

Abbey Mills kept UHS in the game at times and her consistency has been pivotal for their season, finishing in the best five times now.

With that loss, UHS-VU are starting to fall behind the finals pack in sixth, but there is still plenty of time left in the season.

Hampton will build belief that they can push off the bottom of the ladder in coming weeks, proving their offence can match it with the better teams of the competition when they play at their best.

De La Salle 1.3 (9) def by Old Camberwell 3.3 (21)

With two of the top four going head-to-head this was always going to be a close matchup and the strong defences of both sides took over.

De La’s Halle Norton opened the goal-scoring and the home side held strong with this lead, taking a one-point lead at the half.

This was when the Wellers switched gears, kicking two goals in the second half and putting on a defensive masterclass to keep De La scoreless during that period.

De La Salle is statistically the second-best offence in the league, so this was a strong effort from Old Camberwell, who hold onto their fourth spot on the ladder.

The Wellers rallied around some clutch play by Grace Deane in front of goal, while Isabel Dedoncker was named best on ground.

De La fought hard, but were ultimately outplayed in the second half, no fault of Grace Martin, though, who produced a strong performance at home.