WHITTLESEA will need to use its double chance wisely in the Northern Football Netball League division three women’s finals, with a late fightback falling short against St Mary’s 2 on Sunday at La Trobe University.
The Eagles were keen to atone for a three-point loss to the Burra earlier in the season, but with the wind picking up as the game started, it immediately turned into a defensive battle, with Whittlesea kicking against the breeze in the first quarter,
Impressively, the Eagles were able to hold their opponents to just one goal for the quarter, while a late chance was just missed by a matter of seconds as the Eagles narrowly trailed at the first change.
The course of the game was much the same when the Eagles started kicking to the wind, with St Mary’s defending for its life so as to not let the game slip away. As a result, it became a game of stoppage, and it left St Mary’s leading at half time, 7-4.
The Burra made its move in the third quarter, kicking four goals, while Whittlesea at least gave itself a chance by kicking a goal against the breeze, yet still trailed 31-10 at the final change.
Needing a miracle, the Eagles took some time to get back into the game but was able to find a way into the game with late goals from Shae Ashworth and Emma Hancy.
Unfortunately, however, time ran out for the Eagles, falling short by seven points, 5.1 (31) to 3.6 (24).
Ashley Fitzpatrick, Eden Attard, Harper McPherson-Goulding, Jasmyn Lang, Hancy and Julie Pole were all named in the best.
The Eagles will now have to turn their attention towards a do-or-die first semi-final next week, with Eltham 2 waiting in the wings after battling past Epping in the elimination final.
In other results on a massive Sunday of football, Eltham 1 scored a big qualifying final win in division one over Montmorency 1, while Banyule battled back from a 15-point three-quarter-time deficit to overcome Heidelberg by two points.
In division two, Fitzroy Stars thrashed Kilmore by 126 points, while Darebin accounted for Reservoir by 69 points.
