29 July 2019, Liam Petterson
The Basketball Club held its BIGV Pride Double Header on Saturday night, with both the Division 2 Women and Division 1 Men in action during a round that celebrated acceptance, diversity and equality in basketball. The Women’s side dominated the Wallan Panthers to record an 81 to 36 victory as Amelia Smith starred with 23 points, 12 rebounds and two assists, including four three-pointers. The win locked in a home final as the team finished first on the ladder with 15 wins and just 3 losses from the 18-game season. The Men's side went down 72 - 104 against the Sunbury Jets, but earned a 79 - 74 win over the Whittlesea Pacers the following day.
The Men’s Dewar Shield Rugby team all-but-guaranteed its spot in the finals after defeating fifth-placed Power House 41 to 29. Luan Scherman was dominant with two tries, four conversions and a penalty goal. The side sit in fourth with a four-point advantage over Power House with a far superior points difference of +80 to -64, with one match remaining before finals.
In Volleyball, the Renegades’ Premier Women’s side earned a 3-set-to-1 win over rivals Monash University to lock-in top spot on the ladder in the last round of the home-and-away season. A home final against Yarra Ranges awaits next weekend. The Premier Men’s side will also play finals after finishing third, confirmed by a 3 – 2 victory over Monash University, earning a home final against the same opposition on the weekend. Both finals will take place on Court 1 at the State Volleyball Centre.
It was a clean sweep of results for the Football Club’s top sides last weekend, with the University Blues, Blacks, VFLW and VAFA Premier Women’s teams all scoring wins. The VFLW side’s 12.9 – 81 to 5.5 – 35 defeat of Carlton propelled the team to fourth on the ladder with four rounds remaining in the season, with Kaitlyn Ashmore and Katie Angelis bagging three goals apiece while North Melbourne AFLW player Jessica Trend was named best-on-ground for the MUGARS. A dominant University Blues side defeated Old Xaverians 19.6 – 120 to 8.9 – 57, as Daniel Batarilo had a field-day in front of goals, bagging four majors. Hugh Curnow was best-on-ground with three goals as the third-placed University Blacks earned an important 26-point victory over second-placed Old Scotch, retaining the side’s finals hopes. Finally, the VAFA Premier Women triumphed by eight points over Kew FC in a tight-fought contest, 5.4 – 34 to 4.2 – 26.
John Wood scored a hattrick for the State League 4 Men’s Soccer team as the side defeated Melbourne City FC 3 – 1, and now sit third with five games remaining in the season.