A SLOW start has cost the Hamilton Kangaroos any chance of victory against North Warrnambool Eagles in their Hampden Football Netball League round 13 Open clash at Melville Oval on Saturday.

The Roos put up 12 goals in the opening quarter, but the Eagles were the better of the two teams, scoring 15 to take a narrow lead into the first break.

The second quarter was the different, as the visitors repeated their scoring efforts of the opening term, but the Kangaroos were restricted to just seven goals.

An 11-goal half time deficit gave the home side plenty to think about, and the team rallied, as the game opened up and the Kangaroos goalies found their range in the circle.

The blue and white put together their best period of the game, scoring 16 goals to win the term by one.

With one quarter to play, a 10-goal margin was going to take a lot to overcome, and the Kangaroos were only able to reduce the gap to eight at the final whistle, going down 48-56.

Hamilton captain, Emma Sommerville, was once again a standout, named the team’s best player ahead of Clare Crawford and Ella Sevior, who continues to take big strides in her development in her first Open season.

Kelsey Lewis put up 30 goals for the home team, while Crawford (14 goals) and Hayley Sherlock (four) offered support at different times during the contest.

Skye Billings finished with a game-high 33 goals for the visitors, with Victoria Grundy creating plenty of headaches for the Kangaroos.

The Kangaroos finished the round in sixth, two points clear of seventh-placed Camperdown, but still five wins behind fifth-placed Warrnambool.

Hamilton coach, Nat O’Dea said she was proud of how the team fought back and remained positive late in the contest.

“North is a terrific side and yes they got the jump on us - but to the girls credit we won the second half,” she said.

“Hayley Sherlock called time mid-way through the second quarter so Clare Crawford went into goal attack, that was the only change.”

The battle between Billings and the Kangaroos defenders was one of the highlights, with all three players influential across the court.

“Full credit to Emma (Sommerville), she has taken Ella (Sevior) under her wing and those two are incredible to watch, with each game Ella is getting better and better,” O’Dea said.

“Skye Billings is an amazing player and was in stunning form on the weekend.

“Her leadership, ball skills and accuracy at the post was unbelievable.”

The team got through without any major injuries and will now turn their focus to preparing for the 2023 season with finals increasingly unlikely at this stage of the season.

“I feel the girls will want to start building for next year,” O’Dea said.

“I also want the girls to enjoy the remainder of the year and upset a few of the five remaining teams we have to play, all of them are winnable games.”