Tara Murray
Woodend-Hesket turned the tables on Diggers Rest in the Riddell District Netball League grand final rematch on Saturday.
Both sides had different looking sides to last season’s decider, when the Burras claimed their first A-grade premiership.
While the Burras unveiled their premiership flag, they weren’t able to repeat the grand final score line.
The Hawks, who had a few more familiar faces in their line up, jumped out of the blocks and led 11-3 at quarter time at Bloomdale Reserve.
The margin increased to 14 at half time, with the Hawks stepping it up in the second half, winning 56-23.
Matilda Lethlean in her debut for the Hawks, shot 31 goals, while Rebecca Carland shot 25 goals.
Lethlean previously played for Wallan and Melton Centrals.
The last two Ryan Medallists Tayissa Coppinger and Meg Grbac were named the Hawks best.
For the Burras, Leona Hristovska shot 21 goals. Michelle Cliffe was named the Burras best along with Anica Scherer.
Elsewhere, Macedon opened its account against Riddell.
The Cats were playing their first match of the season, while the Bombers had beaten Woodend-Hesket on Good Friday.
The Cats took a narrow lead after the first quarter, before extending it to five goals at the main break.
A 13-7 third quarter broke the game open in the favour of the Cats. While the Bombers won the final quarter, the Cats had already done enough, winning 40-31.
Henrietta Donoghue shot 27 goals in her Cats debut, while Chloe Wilson shot seven goals.
Hayley Birch was the Cats best player in the win, while fellow midcourters Karlee Bruno and Chelsea Kemp also had good games.
For the Bombers, Shelby Holter shot 19 goals. Madison Brown was their best along with Tepaea Hobson.
In the other game played on Saturday, Wallan snuck home against Romsey.
It was the Redbacks that started the better of the two sides, leading by five goals at quarter time.
The lead was reduced to three goals at half time, with the Redbacks still leading at the last break.
The Magpies found something else in the last quarter, with 12 goals to six, to win the game 34-30.
Madison Head shot 20 goals for the Magpies.
For the Redbacks, Emma Grech shot 18 goals.
The other match on the round was played on April 1, with Melton Centrals upsetting the Western Rams.
Lancefield had the bye.
