AFTER a couple of hard-fought semi-finals, the 2021/22 Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (VMMNA) Men’s Premier Division finalists have been decided. Top two sides St Therese and Netblacks both won their respective semis, and will face off in the last match of the season next week. St Therese got the better of fourth placed City Heat by 12 goals (46-34), whilst Netblacks were victorious over Southern Seahawks by 10 (62-52).

Having beaten them just last week, the Netblacks went in as strong favourites over the Seahawks, though the start of the match suggested fans were in for a thriller. There was not much between the sides as Netblacks lead by two goals at quarter time, and had doubled that to four by the main break, with back-to-back 14-12 terms. Junior Levi piled on 26 of his side’s 28 goals, whilst his opposite goal shooter, Danny Loats – who missed the Seahawks’ loss to Netblacks last week – scored 17 of is side’s 24 goals to half-time.

Unsurprisingly, the Netblacks defence of Jake Schuster and Jacob Mudie was doing enough to hold the Seahawks attack at bay, whilst the famed attack of Brodie McLeish and Cameron Powell were feeding Levi well. After Levi piled all of his side’s 18 goals in the third term – with Seahawks scoring 15 and the margin going out to seven – the Netblacks shared it around in the last term. Though Levi still shot the nine goals, it was McLeish who showed confidence from rain nailing seven goals, on the Netblacks way to win, the term by three (16-13) and the match by 10 (62-52).

Loats finished with 36 goals – including a 12-goal third quarter – with his partner-in-crime Jayden Cowling managing the 16. James Robertson had worked hard in centre up against the in-form Deepak Patu, but the Netblacks defence and ability to force turnovers helped create possibilities, which the second placed team took with both hands.

Meanwhile in the later game, St Therese won in a lower-scoring thriller over City Heat, 46-34. The danger signs were there early as the ladder leaders and minor premiers ran away to a six-goal advantage. Riley Richardson returned to the team after missing a couple of weeks – including the loss to the Heat a fortnight earlier – and was lively from the get-go, with Connor Lilly partnering Sam Bury. The latter had a big first term scoring eight goals – one more than the entire opposition team – whilst Lilly contributed five.

As Richardson looked to be a problem, City Heat opted to switch centres, as Anthony Maniapoto came on to replace Tim Marshall. The change mixed it up for the Heat, who went on to outscore St Therese in the term 10-7, and therefore cut the lead in half back to just three goals at the main break. Having scored three goals in the first half in goal attack, Jed Christian was switched into wing attack for the third, with Ben Gosbell coming into the shooting circle alongside James Matthews who had been the thorn in the St Therese side a fortnight ago.

Marshall also returned to the court to go into wing defence, whilst Jake Noonan became the third successive centre to try and wear down Richardson. Al Punshon moved into goal keeper to share the defensive goal circle with Thomas Gilberto who came on, with Ronan Pring and Simon Cartwright resting in the second half. Unfortunately for City Heat, it was St Therese that came out on top in the term, with Tom Hardwick coming on in goal attack for Lilly, and immediately getting to work with eight goals in the third term, and 12 overall. It resulted in the premiership favourites winning the third quarter 16-7, before levelling out the final term with 10 goals apiece.

Bury finished with 27 goals in the win, was Hardwick (12) and Lily (seven) sharing the goal attack bib. Richardson was sensational through centre upon return, taking on four different opponents and remaining clinical in his attack and two-way running. In defence, Jake Hederics did his best to limit the influence of Matthews with well time jumps, with the latter finishing with 23 goals, but only two during that critical third term. Christian worked hard for the Heat, whilst Noonan worked in tandem in the midcourt, but it would not be enough, with St Therese booking its spot in next week’s final.

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

St Therese (46) defeated City Heat (34)
Netblacks (62) defeated Southern Seahawks (52)