Camina Drummer
ROBINVALE Euston produced a polished four-quarter performance to defeat the Imperials 60 to 50 in a high-intensity clash at John James Oval on Saturday.
The Eagles hit the ground running, setting a relentless pace from the first whistle. Goal shooter Sarah Hepburn was in dominant form early, while mid-court pressure from both sides ensured no easy passages of play.
Despite Imperials’ centre Tracey Sherlock working tirelessly, the home side held a 16–12 lead at the first break.
Imperials responded with strategic positional changes in the second quarter. Meg McManus slotted into defence alongside Maggie Monaghan, and the duo’s cohesion helped slow the Eagles’ attacking momentum. Kia Scott’s introduction into the shooting circle provided spark, trimming the margin to just one goal at halftime, 29-28.
A key moment came in the third when Eagles centre Taneh Romeo left the court after a heavy collision.
Carmen Garreffa stepped in seamlessly, combining well with defenders Kirsten Neyland and Jorja Delcastenge. The reshuffle proved effective, with Robinvale Euston extending their lead to six goals at the final change.
The Eagles maintained control in the final term, applying full-court pressure while feeding with precision into the shooting circle. Hepburn was unstoppable, adding 15 final-quarter goals to finish with 43 and cementing her place as second on the SFNL Leading Goal Scorers list.
Neyland’s versatility across multiple defensive roles earned her best-on-ground honors, while Delcastenge was pivotal in creating turnovers. For Imps, Sherlock and Monaghan stood tall in a hard-fought contest.
Robinvale Euston remain solid in fourth place and will look to carry momentum into next week’s clash with Irymple.
Imperials, despite the loss, showed grit and will aim to bounce back against Merbein.
| Robinvale Euston | 60 | |||
| Imperials | 50 | |||
| BEST | ||||
| Robinvale Euston: Kirsten Neyland, Jorja Delcastenge. | ||||
| Imperials: Tracey Sherlock, Maggie Monaghan | ||||
