It was a tough weekend for Melton Centrals and Melton South as both their footballers and netballers went down in the Riddell District Football Netball League on Saturday.
In the A-grade netball, Centrals faced ladder leaders Woodend-Hesket at Arnolds Creek Recreation Reserve.
It was the home team that led at quarter time before the Hawks shot 17 goals to nine in the second quarter to lead by six goals at the main break.
The margin continued to grow in the third quarter with Centrals restricted to just six goals for the quarter.
While Centrals won the final quarter it wasn’t enough with the Hawks winning 52-41 to further cement their spot on top.
Imogen Sexton scored 31 goals for Centrals.
Avana Hobson and Sexton were named Centrals best in the loss.
The loss sees Centrals slip outside the top six, now two points behind sixth placed Wallan.
Melton South’s tough run continued with a big loss to Macedon.
The Cats produced the highest score of the season as they beat the Panthers, 96-24.
Payton Simeki shot 12 goals for the Panthers and Meleane Jackson-Mounga shot 10 goals.
The Panthers sit bottom.
In senior football, the Panthers suffered a hard loss to Macedon.
With both sides looking for finals spots, a lot was on the line with seven teams fighting for six spots.
The Cats led at each of the three breaks but couldn’t break the Panthers with just a goal the difference heading into the final quarter.
The Cats kicked 5.5 to one 1.1 in the final quarter to come away with a 12.22 (94)-9.6 (60) win.
Alec Goodson kicked three goals for the Panthers, William Thornton-Gielen chipped in with two goals.
Jarrod Bibby, Joel Hodgson and Daniel Vasjuta were named the Panthers best.
The Panthers have slipped to fifth on the ladder and are only a game ahead of seventh placed Romsey.
The two sides face each other this Saturday.
Elsewhere, Melton Centrals couldn’t make it two in a row, losing to Woodend-Hesket on Saturday.
It was an even first half before the Hawks kicked away in the third quarter with seven goals to two to lead by 44 points heading into the final quarter.
The Hawks momentum continued in the last quarter as they came away with an 18.13 (121)-7.6 (48) win.
Hisham Kerbatieh kicked two goals for Centrals.
Jonny Ferri, Jake Armistead and Karl Ullrich were Centrals best.
Diggers Rest had the bye.
Tara Murray
