THEY are the two teams earmarked as most likely to dethrone the Saints and not surprisingly, the Round 1 Western Border netball clash between East and North Gambier started at a hectic pace.
Both sides were moving the ball quickly and hitting the circle hard and in the end it was a couple of simple ball handling mistakes from the Bulldogs that saw them trail by two at the first break.
North Gambier d East Gambier
The second quarter saw the Tigers take control early, continuing their polished performance from the opening term.
East all too often let the Tigers into the contest by not attacking the ball as hard as they needed and it saw a small buffer start to build, on the back of turnover ball created across the attacking transverse line as Fyfe read some risky cross-court passes to take a number of her trademark interceptions.
The hands pressure from Ash Kalantarian, in her return to the court, playing on the defensive wing, was also instrumental in forcing the Bulldogs into error and by the half, the Tigers enjoyed an eight-goal lead.
The hard running of Amanda O’Shaughnessy was critical, while Caroline Davey was finishing her opportunities with her usual accuracy.
The second quarter was basically a goal-for-goal contest for the most part, as East stepped up its defensive pressure with the back three – Tyne Bosko, Bo Creek and Morgan Amy – starting to put doubt into the minds of the North feeders and suddenly it was much harder work for the Tigers frontline, after a first half where access to the circle was relatively easy.
Bosko and Creek got their hands to plenty of balls and also forced errors from the usually sure Tigers mid courters, while at the other end, Sara Smith, who moved into the shooting circle in the third quarter when Sarah Lock was forced from the court with Achilles issues, settled in nicely and made good space for Tenille Gray, who once near the post in a one on one contest was her usual unstoppable self.
East also had the services of Rachael Hines, who took the centre bib when Lock was sidelined, seeing Tarsh McCallum moving to the attacking wing.
The improvement in the defensive end of the court for the Bulldogs seemed to inspire the attacking end to work more cohesively together and create space for one another to secure easier scoring opportunities, but North was still able to create enough turnover ball, mainly through Fyfe, to stay in control and finish with a 12-goal victory.
Bosko and Creek were best for the Bulldogs, while O’Shaughnessy and Fyfe led the way for the Tigers.
West Gambier d Casterton/Sandford
AS it always does, it took some time for West Gambier to shake off a tenacious Casterton Sandford at Malseed Park, but in the end the Roos built a 20-goal victory as both clubs unveiled new look line-ups for the 2018 Western Border netball season.
The Cats debuted rising star Eva Chandler, who was stepping in for the absent Madalene Cleary and her height and strength on the take was a factor in the opening stanza, with the Cats running goal-for-goal with West.
Chandler combined with star recruit Meg Fennell in goals and the duo was able to take advantage of the defensive combination of Maddy Teakle and Amy Cram who looked to find synergy after a season not playing together.
At the other end Jess Bell and Carlee Davey were providing some spark in offence as they used their pace and quick ball movement to great effect to find Lisa McGregor and Tahlia Earl in space.
The scoreboard was locked at 11-all at the first change before West found another gear.
Gaby Tomkins and Scarlett Jarrad swapped bibs at the break, with Tomkins going to the defensive wing and Jarrad to the middle.
Teakle and Cram started to find their mojo and the long high delivery from the Cats suddenly became turnover fodder for the Roos defenders.
The efforts of debutante Maggie Kipping on the defensive wing also had an impact as she wore Tori Perry like a glove and also picked up some critical touches.
As a result, by the main break, West had surged to a 13 goal lead.
The Cats swung the changes after the half time break, with Tomkins forced from the court with injury.
Fennell moved to centre, Perry into the shooting circle with Chandler, Sharna Fidler to the defensive wing, Jarrad to wing attack and Tayla Guthrie entered the contest at goal defence.
Those changes appeared to reap some reward as the defensive effort stepped up and the Cats again ran goal-for-goal with the Roos.
Jarrad was the dominant feeder, while Abbey Shannon and Guthrie were at their tenacious best, getting plenty of critical touches and placing McGregor and Earl under pressure.
The lead extended by only one at the final change, but again it was the Roos who found another gear to make it a 54-34 final whistle scoreline.
Bell was as influential as expected through the mid court and her combination with Davey already looks dangerous.
Earl seemed to have her timing back, while McGregor is always influential.
At the other end, Cram and Teakle look set to again be a tough defensive combination, while Kipping will only improve as she gets more senior netball under her belt.
Shannon again looks set to anchor the defensive end of the court and there are some players to come into the Cats line-up, which was also well served by Jarrad, so judging Casterton Sandford will need to be put on ice until deeper into the season.
Millicent d South Gambier
IT was always going to be a tough day at the office for South Gambier when they headed to McLaughlin Park to take on reigning premiers Millicent in the opening round of Western Border netball.
It was made even tougher given tall, starting goal shooter Tilah Buckingham is unavailable for the opening few rounds.
Millicent, too, had a new-look line-up, with new coach Demi Verbena returning to the goal attack bib, where she is a multi-premiership player for the club, Madi Turner took to the attacking wing and Hannah Nitschke earned a start at wing defence.
It was normal transmission in the opening quarter, with some slick ball movement seeing Millicent scoring freely as Turner and Lisa Duldig found the edge of the circle with ease and Donna Denton and Verbena started to rebuild some chemistry and the 23-8 quarter time scoreline had an all too familiar look to it.
The Demons did regroup, started to apply some serious defensive pressure and were able to slow the speed of ball into the circle, which allowed defenders Zoe Duncan and Alyssa Boylan to place more pressure on the Saints shooting combination.
Talyssa Watts also started to find her feet on the defensive wing in her A Grade debut for the Demons and she secured some important touches to disrupt Millicent’s ball movement, while Georgia Hood and Imogen Walker started to settle and find some good space to earn some more shooting opportunities.
Kimmi Varcoe and Hayley Dunn made them earn every possession, with Varcoe contesting every ball and coming away with some stunning interceptions, while Dunn’s work over the shot was causing problems for the South shooting combination.
The lead extended at the half and both teams swung the changes.
Paige Nitschke took the goal attack bib for Millicent, with Verbena moving to the attacking wing and Turner heading back to her 2017 role on the defensive wing.
South switched their wings, with Tori McIntyre heading to the defensive role and Watts in attack.
It was the Demons best quarter, going down 9-15.
Boylan created a number of turnovers as the Saints forward line lacked its usual fluency, but the finishing from Denton and Nitschke was accurate for the most part.
While it was far from perfect, Millicent was always in control.
Alice Pratt entered the game for the final quarter, making her A Grade debut on the defensive wing and she showed she is going to be a tight checking defender, willing to contest everything, while
Nitschke and Verbena took the shooting roles, with Denton heading to the bench.
The final margin of 42 is ominous for opposition teams, given Millicent is clearly a work in progress, but South also showed if it can bring defensive pressure, it will create turnovers and once their ball movement and understanding in offence improves, they look like they will be able score more prolifically.
Millicent’s convincing victory was again built on relentless defensive pressure and Dunn and Varcoe gave up few easy shots over the four quarters, while Lisa Duldig was at her hard running best, finding good circle position and connecting well with all three goalers.
Denton was again the focal point, while Verbena is a dangerous player and her finishing from long range was accurate.
For South, Imogen Walker worked hard, taking the ball strongly, while Boylan battled hard with Denton.
Watts was also a revelation in her debut, having an impact on both wings.
