M-League finals week 1 results

Friday, November 27, 2009

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

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