HUNTLY has stayed in the hunt for a top-three finish after defeating Elmore by 11 goals.
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The Hawks made amends for an earlier season two goal loss to the Bloods with a hard-fought victory in wet and blustery conditions at Huntly on Saturday.
But the 39-28 win was soured by a back injury to star goaler Laura Philbrick.
The Hawks goal shooter scored 21 goals before going down late in the final quarter.
As Philbrick was attended to by trainers, the game was moved to an adjoining court.
The Hawks were able to remain composed in the final minutes against a persistent Bloods and notch their eighth win of the season.
Huntly coach Emily Eliades said her team was expecting Elmore to come out firing and that was exactly how it panned it with the Bloods scoring the opening two goals of the game and holding a narrow lead for the majority of the opening quarter.
“We really needed that win – we knew they would come out cracking, but we really wanted to redeem that earlier season loss,” she said.
“Although the weather conditions weren’t what we wanted, we were able to draw on the experience of Kym (Bell) and Ash (Jenkyn) to slow things down, hold it up and make good decisions.
“Our third quarter was great – we knew we needed to make a break, otherwise we would have been fighting it out tooth and nail to the end.
“Credit to the Elmore girls, they never stopped trying and played a really strong game, but we were able to force those crucial turnovers to allow us to pull away.”
The Hawks were best served by their hard-working centre Kym Bell, who was matched against three different players throughout the contest, defender Sharna Appleby, who spent two quarters each at goal defence and goal keeper, and wing attack Emma Jenkyn.
Philbrick’s injury was another blow for the Hawks, who have already lost defenders Montana Kekich and Alex Waterman and the dependable Mel Biggs to season-ending injuries.
On the plus side, Eliades was encouraged by the form of 17-year-old Taylah Harrison at wing defence in her first season out of junior netball.
Elmore coach Sue Borserio said her players could hold their heads high after giving their absolute all in the tricky conditions.
“The girls put everything we’ve done at training this week into practice excellently and now we are building up for what we are hoping is a finals campaign,” she said.
“We’re in the midst of a hard three weeks (with games against Mount Pleasant and Huntly already played) and it won’t get any easier for us next week against White Hills.
“That said we won’t mind playing against White Hills, it’s a nice clean game, they go hard for the ball and we are a bit the same.
“It will be good netball and another good challenge.”
Borserio praised the leadership and performance of 2018 season recruit Abbey Hay, who spent the first and last quarters at wing attack and the middle two in centre.
“She shows so much heart every week and really lifts the girls with her leadership and just how hard she goes at the ball,” she said.
“She wears her heart on her sleeve and really wants the ball and wants to win.
“That’s the kind of people we like having out on the court, but I thought all the girls really gelled well today.”
Another bonus for the Bloods was some quality court-time in the final quarter for youngsters Elly Hayes and Samantha Borserio.
Meanwhile, top of the ladder Colbinabbin kept its unbeaten streak intact with a convincing win against Leitchville-Gunbower.
The reigning premiers, who are chasing a fourth consecutive flag, defeated the Bombers 76-26 at Gunbower.
White Hills continued its rampaging form with a 69-17 victory against North Bendigo, to remain one win behind the Grasshoppers.
Third-placed Mount Pleasant defeated Heathcote 58-24.