The Pandas produced yet another outstanding performance tonight maintaining their 100% home record to secure a vital 40-38 victory over a tough Bayside team.
These girls are incredible fighters - not only do they have a belief in their own abilities they believe in the abilities of their team-mates.
It's this magnificent team spirit and camaraderie which has seen the Pandas push through the challenges faced this season holding their heads high and keeping their chances of promotion alive.
The chase for promotion is going to the wire and against the odds the Pandas are still in the race - that in itself is a sweet victory for this team and the club.
Tonight was a tough match - Bayside know that every point is crucial in their own challenge for promotion - they fought hard for possession marking our players as though their lives depended on it.
Our girls held their cool, playing clean and were a credit to the club. Emily Enterman was again on fire against an excellent GA. Her movement from the centre court back to the circle was at the speed of light and if you blinked you'd miss it! Sarah Medlin didn't hesitate in naming Emily as her player of the match.
Bayside are renowned for their defence and commanding the circle - it was so exciting to see Sophie Tucker dodging, keeping on her toes, moving in front of her player, extending for the long pass and maintaining such a consistent strike rate. Bayside selected our Sophie as their player of the match - and having two excellent shooters of their own this was high praise as their bar is high.
But again, it was a massive team effort led from the front by our wonderful Sarah Medlin.
"I'm so proud of the girls for never giving up," said Sarah who is such an inspiration to this team. "We played clean, worked together and held our heads high against a rather physical and contact happy opposition. This was a game we all wanted to win and we deserved the victory!"
Mention must also go to Niki Bellenger who has been such an asset to the Pandas and tonight was no exception highlighted by the number of rebounds she snatched from the opposition and scoring so consistently.
Megan Hampton, Ashley Hogg and Deannah Jayne were equally influential and together with Nina Chun and Bryony Marie on the bench this was a great team effort.
Even Hannah Steadman had a hotline to Treliske MRI department giving her the lowdown on the match and the score - thank you Mary O'Connell!
And not forgetting our wonderful umpire Jenna Smith and our scoring/timing team of John and Jackie Carr.
And thank you Bayside for pushing us all the way in such a close encounter!
The Pandas have one final match and it's going to be tough with Niki Bellenger, Hannah Steadman and Deannah Jayne absent - but miracles can happen and don't stop believing!
Kathryn Pearn - Chair