AFTER dropping their first game last week, the Netblacks bounced back with an important win prior to the Christmas-New Year’s break in the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association’s (VMMNA) Men’s Premier Division. The Netblacks knocked off DDNA by 26 goals in a win that looked inevitable from the first term, but a lead that keep growing throughout the match to win all four quarters.

Most of the damage was done in the first half, with the Netblacks piling on 38 goals to 20 to head into the main break with a dominant lead. It came off the back of another outstanding midcourt effort from Deepak Patu in centre and Cameron Powell in wing attack. Naturally, Junior Levi got on the end of their hard work, too tall and clever in the air to shoot 33 out of 35 to be the key target under the post.

Though they were down, DDNA were not without chances, having 17 attempts in the second term, but only nailing 10 of them, with inaccuracy becoming a problem. To half-time, Brayden Pastore had shot eight goals, David Butler five and Ethan Spiteri – who came on at quarter time for Butler and moved into shooter and Pastore into goal attack – scored seven in the term.

In almost identical circumstances, Pastore and Spiteri added another 11 goals in the third term, with Spiteri ending up with 14 goals from 26 chances before being moved into goal keeper for the final term. Full credit had to go to the defensive efforts of Jacob Mundie, Remy Pirihi and Jake Schuser all applying pressure in the defensive end. For DDNA, Adam Franz worked hard in centre, and Jake Dambrauskas through the wing defence and centre bibs.

Both sides made plenty of chances in the last quarter to rotate players around and it was the most even quarter of the lot, with Netblacks only winning it by a goal, 16-15. But with the game done and dusted, Levi came off with a couple of minutes left, and the Netblacks still held up with the smaller shooting circle. Despite being rested in the final term, Schuser was outstanding in the game, with Patu and Powell again among the best in the 72-46 win.

Meanwhile St Therese secured top spot heading into the break with a 10-goal win over Ariels. Courtesy of a dominant second term which saw St Therese restrict their opponents to just six goals and blow the margin out to 10 by the main break, the unbeaten side kept its perfect form intact this season. Both teams were even after half-time with 21 goals apiece, but that second quarter made all the difference in the double-digit win.

In that quarter, Sam Bury shot 10 goals coming on after a rest in the first quarter, following on the work from Connor Lilly. Returning after the quarter’s spell, Lilly got a taste in wing attack and then goal attack, feeding Bury who finished with 25 goals to his name. For Ariels, Ryan Towers was instrumental for three quarters in centre, with Kurt Thompson playing an impressive role in goal attack. Cameron Allum still shot his fair share of goal with 29 for the match, while Dan Stone stood tall in defence.

The other clash was far closer with City Heat getting up by a goal over Sirens, 58-57. Brodie Roberts was outstanding for Sirens, piling on 13 goals in the first half, then moved into wing attack for the second. He then played a quarter for Parkville in the Mixed Division where he shot 24 goals before a well-earned rest. Also influential for Sirens was Sam Dugan up the defensive end, working well with Andrew Burgess throughout the game. Meanwhile Jake Noonan stood tall for City Heat through the wing attack and eventually centre bib, with Alastair Punshon scoring 34 goals for the match in a hue effort.

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION ROUND 5 RESULTS:

Netblacks (72) defeated DDNA (46)
St Therese (48) defeated Ariels (38)
City Heat (58) defeated Sirens (57)