SOME bruising encounters have marked the first week of M-League
finals at the State Netball Hockey Centre.
The Premier Men's and Premier Mixed divisions both produced
classic contests, with all sides refusing to give an inch.
It was not the Vipers' night.
Despite impressing all season and finishing on top of both the
men's and mixed table, they could not convert that form into early
finals succcess, going down in both matches.
PREMIER MEN'S
In the top men's section the Vipers got close in the qualifying
final, closing to within two goals late in the game.
But they could not find the extra couple of goals to
finish the job, going down 47-50 to the Southern Sparks.
The Vipers' goal circle was unable to fire consistently all
night, hindered by a tall Sparks defensive end, while for the
Sparks, Dave Chisholm provided easy goals to book his side direct
passage through to the grand final.
Meeting the Vipers' in Wednesday's preliminary final will be
Hoppers Crossing, who easily accounted for the Western Cowboys in
the elimination final, 52-42.
PREMIER MIXED
Second-placed South Morang built on their win over the Vipers in
the final regular season game, holding on for a 41-39 win in the
qualifying final.
The Vipers never quite recovered after a sluggish start and will
look to improve their first quarter form next week, when they take
on Hume #1, who won through to the preliminary final with a solid
showing against Hume #2.
MIXED DIVISION ONE
The top-of-the-table hoodoo continued in mixed division one,
where the PV Comets faded in the second half against the Yarra Jive
Turkeys, losing 47-36.
Tackling the Comets in the preliminary final will be
Dromanarama, who accounted for an undermanned Yarra Jets outfit,
43-39.
MEN'S DIVISION ONE
Box Hill is straight through to the grand final in the secondary
men's division, beating the PV Comets, who will take on
South East Blackhawks for the other grand final spot after they
overcame the Northern Titans, 44-38.
PRELIMINARY FINAL SCHEDULE - NOVEMBER 9
STATE NETBALL HOCKEY CENTRE, PARKVILLE
PREMIER MIXED 7PM
Vipers v Hume #1 - court 1
MIXED DIV 1 7PM
PV Comets v Yarra Jets - court 2
PREMIER MENS 8.30PM
Vipers v Hoppers Crossing - court 1
MEN'S DIV 1 8.30PM
PV Comets v South East Blackhawks - court 2
FULL FINALS DRAW
HERE
