EAST GAMBIER 66 d SOUTH GAMBIER 37
CONSIDERING Western Border netball teams have barely played over the past month, a rusty opening quarter was to be expected and both South Gambier and East Gambier spent the opening minutes of the match at Blue lake Sports Park dusting off the cobwebs.
In the end it was all about supply and East created enough turnover ball to ensure they were in control at quarter time with a seven-goal buffer.
The strong driving of Emily Hunter and connection between Tenille Gray and Amryn Bosko was more impressive as the quarter wore on and improved further in the second term as the Bulldogs took a 14-goal lead into the main break.
Hunter, Tyne Bosko, Lisa Fyfe and Bo Creek made life tough for the South frontline, not just with clean intercepts but also by pressuring every pass and denying access to the circle’s edge.
The ability of Lara Munro to convert her opportunities and her willingness to do the work required to shake off Fyfe was pivotal in keeping the Demons in touch, as was the defensive efforts of Brandi Bouchier and Ellie Bouchier, who were constantly faced with the ball at speed, but still managed to be disruptive.
It was the third quarter where the scoreboard damage was done as East took that 15 minutes with a 24-9 scoreline, with Gray shooting 17 straight and Amryn Bosko converting seven from eight.
Again the defensive efforts of the Bulldogs created those opportunities and in the final quarter, which finished at 10-all, the intensity disappeared from the contest with the final scoreline 66-37.
For South the Bouchier defensive combination continues to shoulder a heavy workload and rises to the occasion, while Renee Pluckhahn in centre is a hard worker who has an impact at both ends of the court.
The battle between Tyne Bosko and Alyssa Duncan was one of the best on the day as two of the rising stars of the competition both had their moments, while Munro would have to be high in the club’s best and fairest counting in her debut A Grade season.
For the Bulldogs, there is no weakness – at the moment it is about consistency of performance and just trying to regain the momentum of the early rounds, given the disruption to the season and while Kate Dempsey easily holds her own in the top grade, East is also close to welcoming back Tarsh McCallum from injury.
MILLICENT 57 d NORTH GAMBIER 52
In the final wash up, the clash between North Gambier and Millicent is a tough analysis.
A competitive opening half saw Millicent with a 10-goal half-time lead and for the most part looked in control.
In the third quarter they blew the game apart and given the Saints scraped to a two-goal victory the last time the two met in 2021, at three quarter time the scoreline was reminiscent of seasons’ past with a 16-goal buffer.
But the Tigers had other ideas and a 20-9 last-quarter onslaught saw the final margin at just five goals.
The question now is, who are the real Saints and who are the real Tigers?
What we do know is both sides have game plans that revolve around getting the ball in the hands of their tall shooters and both delivered at the weekend.
Millicent’s Tabatha Sanderson netted 50 from 55 and Caroline Davey converted 46 from 48 and the final quarter in some ways shows how important both are – Sanderson suffered from lack of supply, netting seven from nine, while Davey had her best supply of the game and shot 18 straight.
One thing North might want to take note of, is the selection of Teneille Barry by the opposition as one of the two best players on the court, despite only joining the contest at half time.
Initially on the defensive wing, where she is a tight checking harassing player and then on the attacking wing in the last where she found great connection with Davey.
In fact, in the end, it was the mid-court battles where the game was essentially won and lost with Lucy Denton at centre for Millicent and Lisa Duldig, on her preferred defensive wing, named the Saints’ best.
However, it is safe to say the intensity North brought to the last quarter needs to be a four-quarter and the defensive pressure they applied across the court will need to become part of their DNA for the full 60 minutes if they want to challenge in the finals, because the final 15 minutes of the weekend showed just what they are capable of when at their best.
Meanwhile, unlike the football, the Casterton Sandford v West Gambier game is still pending given current and ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions.
The association hopes to play the game if conditions allow.
