SENIORS Monbulk and Gembrook-Cockatoo met in fine conditions at Monbulk to again contest the Ramage Family Trophy. In 1994 Gembrook’s ground was unavailable and Monbulk helped out by allowing them to share the Moores Road Reserve. Gembrook were so pleased with the way that Monbulk had treated their co-tenants that they decided to establish the Ramage Family Trophy to be contested whenever the two clubs were to meet, which is now in its 30th year.
The Hawks and Brookers were level on wins going into this match. Gembrook held the lead throughout the first half by executing with greater accuracy, as Monbulk squandered chances in front of the sticks. The Hawks hit the front after a four goal to two third quarter, off the back of superb desperation at the contests. The game was in the balance right to the end as Monbulk eventually recorded their third straight win.
RESERVES Monbulk had still selected a strong team and fancied their chances against the 5th place Gembrook. The men in green played a more composed game though and gradually drew away from the Hawks as the afternoon wore on. Monbulk had more scoring chances but a return of 6 points in the second term and 1.6 to nothing in the last, as they came storming home, meant that they would fall short.
Monbulk 5.14.44 def by Gembrook-Cockatoo 11.4.70 Best: Lewis Oliver, Hamish Emmett, Cameron Griffiths, Thomas Berman, Lachlan Smith, Adam Banks Goals: Lewis Oliver 1, Harry Fleming 1, Hamish Emmett 1, Charlie Barge 1, Lachlan Smith 1
WOMEN’S Monbulk started slowly in their match with Woori Yallock, and were trailing by 17 points at half time. The Tigers had shown good ball movement and were hitting targets. Monbulk were not to be denied and with a never-say-die attitude willed themselves back into the contest. The Hawks had by far the best of the last quarter but a final forward foray just drifted wide and the girls had to settle with a four point defeat, along with dropping back to second.
NETBALL A GRADE The ladder positions of Monbulk in sixth and Gembrook in tenth suggested that the Hawks should be too strong. Monbulk, however, wasn’t just going to just settle for a win. In a sustained four quarter assault, reaping 22, 22, 22 and 24 goals across each successive term, the Hawks notched their 3rd highest ever score of 90 goals. Monbulk now find themselves in fifth place.
Monbulk 90 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 27 Best: Peri Reid, Sophie Stubbs, Georgia Himmelreich Goals: Peri Reid 55, Stephanie Ferguson 32, Sophie Stubbs 3
B GRADE After having accepted her Life Membership, Bonnie Munday led the Hawks out against Gembrook-Cockatoo. Monbulk started the day half a game behind Gembrook on the ladder and were missing their leading shooter, Jorja Wragg. Shayne Broekhof, a co-founder of the netball team in 2005 and captain of the club’s only A Grade premiership in 2006 made a return, playing alongside her 2006 flag teammate Katrina Wragg. Interestingly, Monbulk’s Goal Attack in that 2006 flag side, Amy Belton, also played, although she was a member of the Gembrook team. The Hawks had their opponents’ measure throughout the match with Dayna Walsham continuing her rich recent form up forward.
C GRADE The most exciting match of the day was played out in C Grade. Gembrook took it right up to the Hawks and were leading for lengthy periods. The Brookers were up by a couple of goals when Monbulk nailed 4 successive attempts late in the game. Gembrook scored on the buzzer to leave the Hawks winners by a solitary goal. Jamie Sands, another member of the 2006 A Grade premiership side, was instrumental.
D GRADE If C Grade was the most exciting finish, D Grade matched it for sheer exuberance. Since D Grade had reached the finals in 2018, this squad had struggled for a few years, being unable to field a side at all in 2019 and 2022. They faced a Gembrook side in a similar situation, as both were winless over the first 9 weeks. Monbulk effectively won the game in the opening term with an 8-0 blitz and they were never troubled after that.
Monbulk 27 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 7 Best: Zali Utting, Jessica Steele, Eireann Lawson Goals: Hayley Donald 13, Ella Flynn 9, Maddy Buckland 5
UNDER 15s It was five from five in the netball as the Under 15s travelled to Holm Park, Beaconsfield, and comfortably accounted for their opponents, after suffering a defeat at the same venue three weeks back. It was a 17 goal turnaround from the earlier match as the Hawks broke open the game in the second half. With 2 byes coming up they won’t play again until meeting ROC on July 13.
