Bar Beach holds off Glendale to bag first win of the year

Bar Beach captain Callum Foot keeps a watchful eye over the opposite team.

Bar Beach have recorded their first win of 2019 with a 9-5 victory over Glendale on Thursday evening. Combining in a massive team effort, the Boomers levelled their early Season 12 record to 1-1 at the expense of the league newcomers, and moved into fifth place.
The win came from the mid-game of the clash, as Glendale and Bar Beach remained in touching distance for much of the opening sets before captain Callum Foot pulled his team into shape and pushed them into the lead.
Bar Beach, bolstered by the return of last season's most valuable player Emma Hawes, claimed the four-set win in the second half, shutting out an ever-improving Glendale side and keeping their cool to close out the key triumph.
Elsewhere on Thursday evening, Kotara claimed a major upset over runners-up Hamilton, knocking the former champions down into the loser's circle for the second time in as many weeks with a tight 7-6 win. The Kings showed glimmering brilliance either side of half time to lock the Stags out of the match, with Luke Mallet and Keely Duggan's contributions at the front and back of the court respectively proving enough to beat out Hamilton.
The defeat leaves Hamilton with a 0-2 start to their twelfth season in the league, the first time the five-time champions have ever lost both their opening matches in a campaign.
Earlier in the evening, Belmont bounced out to a two-win start to their title defence with a close 7-6 win over Waratah. Despite heading into the break with a 5-1 advantage, the Beavers nearly slipped in the second half, as the Cobras claimed five of their own sets and conceded just two to Belmont to come within touching distance of a second round comeback against the champions.
Finally, Shortland also recorded their second in of the season with a 12-6 win over Raymond Terrace, dropping the Raccoons to a 0-2 start alongside Glendale and Hamilton.
STANDINGS: Shortland, Kotara, Belmont (6), Waratah, Bar Beach (4), Hamilton, Raymond Terrace, Glendale (2)