A TOUGH arm-wrestle between Casterton Sandford and South Gambier saw the Cats take the honours for the second time this Western Border netball season.
The low scoring affair, where both sides had opportunities to establish good leads seesawed from favouring the hosts to the Demons.
The early advantage was held by the Cats in the opening minutes, but once South found its rhythm in offence and tightened the screws in defence, the Demons looked the better side.
Jordyn Adams and Alannah Campbell were making it tough for Casteron Sandford’s shooters Tori Perry and Madalene Cleary to find easy ball in good shooting position and they dominated the rebounding duels.
Scoring was not easy at the other end either, with Scarlett Jarrad playing her usual tight checking game on the defensive wing and Abbey Shannon and Steph Drogemuller contesting everything.
However, with coach Lauren Duncan steadying the side, the Demons eventually found Tilah Buckingham in space and the shooter did not let them down, converting 13 from 16 in the opening half.
Buckingham’s accuracy combined with the high work rate of Imogen Walker at goal attack, as well as the ability of Adams and Campbell to create turnover ball, saw the Demons five goals clear at the main break.
South still looked in control early in the third, but the six goal lead they enjoyed around five minutes into the second half started to dissipate as the Cats worked their way back into the contest.
Jarrad, Shannon and Drogemuller started to really lift the intensity of their defensive pressure and the turnovers started to flow.
Natalie Rhook and Gaby Tomkins were patient through the mid court and Perry and Cleary started to find each other in space and Perry found her radar on the shot and with the duo converting 13 from 15, the reward for effort was there for Casterton Sandford.
It saw South watch that six-goal lead turn into a three-goal three-quarter-time deficit and early errors in the last, saw the Cats build six-goal advantage.
Campbell was forced from the court with illness during the last and Alyce Mourbey took the goal keeper bib and had an impact with some important touches but South was unable to really get the deficit any closer than four goals, which was the final margin.
Perry was outstanding in her 200th game for the club, while Shannon and Drogemuller limited scoring opportunities for the Demons.
For South, Walker gave 100pc, while Campbell and Adams did create enough possession for the Demons to stay in the contest.
