A hard-fought win and a full list to choose from appears likely to give Ocean Grove a top three spot at the halfway mark of the season.
The Grubbers are in third spot, level on 24 points with Queenscliff and Torquay and face bottom team Modewarre tomorrow to round off round nine and the official halfway point with every side playing each other once.
Ocean Grove was tested by fifth placed Anglesea early in round eight, before leading by 10 goals at half time and then had the game in its keeping by the final change with a 20-goal buffer and eventually won 69 to 52.
“We kept trying to work on the things we’ve been looking at training and trying to get a few combinations right on court as well,” co-coach Candice Parker.
Emily Moroney was superb at wing attack.
“She works really hard on what we’ve been working on at training,” Parker said.
“Her consistency and work rate is always very good.”
Goal attack Jessica Thwaites was named in the best and Parker said her work rate was first class.
Goal shooter Bec O’Neill shot a mammoth 63 goals and reinforced her reputation as the competition’s best shooter.
Parker said even though Modda hasn’t won a game, the Grubbers were not taking them lightly.
“We treat every game like it’s going to be a hard game,” she said.
“They’ll be pretty tough. They put a lot of pressure down the court. I think it’s more making sure we play our game and being really confident in our play.”
Parker said having a full list was encouraging.
“The next few rounds we’ll be looking at getting those (previously injured) players back for some more court time,” she said.
Parker summed up the season so far as “good”.
“We are working hard but it’s more that consistency across the court,” she said.
“Every now and then we lose concentration.”
ROUND 8
A GRADE: Ocean Grove 69 def Anglesea 52. Best: Emily Moroney, Jessica Thwaites, Rebecca O’Neill (63 goals).
B GRADE: Ocean Grove 63 def Anglesea 40. Best: Claudia Britt, Emma Jones, Jesse Sutton.
C GRADE: Ocean Grove 36 def Anglesea 32. Best: Abbey Stanic, Kate Titheridge (28 goals), Maddy Goodger.
D GRADE: Ocean Grove 40 def Anglesea 15. Best: Tarryn Stanley, Maya Hamilton (16 goals), Tina Birch (24 goals).
D GRADE: Ocean Grove 32 def Anglesea 24. Best: Taryn Laverty, Isabella Maier (18 goals), Kylie Collett.
19 & Under: Ocean Grove 26 def by Modewarre 28. Best: Lily Hallam, Zoe Hildebrandt, Lexie Annand.
17 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 46 def Anglesea 19. Best: Maya Hamilton (19 goals), Sofia Dickeson, Lucy Sampson (27 goals).
17 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 33 def Anglesea 6. Best: Bella Wearmouth (16 goals), Amelia Stanic, Grace Sadler.
15 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 31 def Anglesea 12. Best: Alice Sampson, Laura Ahearn, Abhi Sanjeev (15 goals).
15 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 34 def Anglesea 10. Best: Charli Burke, Lucy Neaves (16 goals), Piper Needham.
13 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 20 def by Anglesea 30. Best: Charli Rew, Tamika Wall (13 goals), Alana Farrow.
13 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 19 def Anglesea 8. Best: Crystal Wright, Ava Leske, Olive Wearmouth.
