By: Lachlan SHIRLEY

DESPITE already securing the Geelong Region Women’s Division 1 league title, the Geelong Rangers haven’t slowed down as they easily defeated Drysdale 6-1 at Drysdale Sporting Precinct last Saturday afternoon.

PHOTO: Action from the Bell Park v Surf Coast clash at the Bell Park Sports Club on the weekend (Photo courtesy of the Bell Park SC Facebook page)

Zoe Tizard, Brittany Elsen and Georgia Ilijevski scored a goal each, while Lara Heric scored a hat-trick. Serena Stephens scored Drysdale’s only goal, which proved to be a minor consolation in the Round 16 showdown.

The league champions are now 13 points clear of second placed Deakin Ducks, while Drysdale is 5^th on the table with 16 points.

In other games, Bell Park recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over bottom of the table side Surf Coast at the Bell Park Sports Club.

A strong start from Park led to the opening goal which came in the fifth minute from Elizabeth Sarcevic. The 1-0 lead remained intact until half time. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Bell Park doubled its lead after Sarcevic scored her second.

Jaime Blackney recorded her first goal for Bell Park in the 75^th minute to make the score 3-0 which remained that way right up to the final whistle.

Bell Park is 5^th on the league standings with a total of 19 points with just two games left.

To complete Round 16, Barwon and Deakin shared the points at Grovedale Reserve with the match finishing in a 1-1 stalemate.

A goal from Michaela Buchanan helped Barwon to take a point away from the game, while Deakin’s lone goalscorer was not submitted by the club.

Barwon and Deakin are on equal points with 24 apiece. Deakin has the upper hand however, as the Ducks have a superior goal difference as well as game in hand heading into the final two rounds.

Lachlan Shirley is a young SEDA student, currently doing work experience with FFV Geelong. He will be compiling regular weekly reports on the Geelong Region Men’s and Women’s Division 1 competitions.