THE clash between West Gambier and Millicent was a free flowing, high scoring affair in Round 3 of Western Border netball on Saturday at McLaughlin Park.
However, it was Millicent who took control in the second quarter, continuing its undefeated status and winning by 32 goals.
Millicent 87 d West Gambier 55
The opening term saw both sides move the ball with speed and precision as respective centres Madi Turner and Jess Bell took control of the mid court and fed their shooters with safe hands.
Madi Haggett made her A Grade starting line-up debut at goal defence and after a slow start in the opening quarter against the experience Lisa McGregor, the youngster found her feet.
McGregor was still one of the Roos’ best, but Haggett rebounded strongly and provided good attacking options through the mid court.
The Saints led by seven at the first break but it was in the second, when Millicent picked up its defensive intensity, the reigning premiers took control – turning that seven goal advantage into a 22-goal half time deficit for West.
Hayley Dunn and Haggett combined more effectively in the second quarter and made the connection to the shooters more difficult and with Donna Denton and Demi Verbena converting with good accuracy, the scoreboard started to look a little lop sided.
During the second quarter, Turner was forced from the court with the blood rule, seeing Lisa Duldig moving into the centre and Paige Nitschke to the attacking wing.
More changes were made by the Saints at the main break, with Paige Nitschke moving into shooter, Duldig back to wing attack and Turner returned to centre.
Verbena’s speed started to be an key influence int he second half, while accuracy from all four shooters on court was a feature of the match.
Paige Nitschke looked as comfortable as she has in her short A Grade career and she shot 27 goals for the half in a composed display.
The connection between Duldig and Verbena was damaging as the two consistently worked the ball between them to work the ball into scoring range, while at the other end, Carlee Davey and Bell showed good patience to deliver the ball to Tahlia Earl and McGregor.
North Gambier 65 d Casterton Sandford 32
NORTH Gambier’s 33-goal win over Casterton Sandford was set up in the first half with the Cats bouncing back in the second to put in a much more competitive display, arguably saving their best netball for the final quarter.
But the damage had been done, as Amanda O’Shaughnessy dominated the mid court with her hard running and Ash Kalantarian kept turning the ball over – both with her hands pressure over the pass and her ability to ready the play and create turnovers.
It meant Caroline Davey and Ellie Gould received good supply, especially with Kaitlin Egan finding the circle’s edge on a consistent basis and feeding the ball with precision.
The Cats’ cause was not helped when Gaby Tomkins was forced from the court with the blood rule, seeing new recruit Alice Alexander take the centre bib.
The Tigers also lost a key player early with Lisa Fyfe forced from the court, although Egan filled the goal defender role – one that was hers two seasons ago – without missing a beat.
Tomkins returned to the court as the Cats swung the changes in the second half, injecting tall young shooter Eva Chandler into the action, with Tori Perry moving to goal attack and Meg Fennell to the attacking wing.
The changes seemed to have an impact and with Madalene Cleary, who was back in her original A Grade role of circle defender, and Abbey Shannon, who has had a stellar opening three weeks, creating enough runover ball, the Cats certainly looked better.
But in the end, Kalantarian continued to turn the ball over, Egan’s tight checking made life tough in the shooting circle, and Davey won enough ball to see her shoot 51 of North’s 65 goals for the match.
East Gambier 55 d South Gambier 38
DESPITE a strong showing from South Gambier, East Gambier took the honours by 17 goals in Round 3 of Western Border netball on Friday night under lights.
The Bulldogs enjoyed a slim six-goal lead at quarter time of last Friday night’s A Grade netball clash at McDonald Park and they had Morgan Amy and Bo Creek to thank for deficit.
Tarsh McCallum and Tyne Bosko made it tough for the South feeders to gain easy access to the shooting circle and the willingness of Amy and Creek to hunt the intercept meant South’s forward line kept coughing up possession.
At the other end, Tenille Gray and Sarah Lock were finding good space, in range, and the duo converted 14-from-17 in the opening quarter to ensure the Bulldogs’ dominance was replicated on the scoreboard.
To the Demons’ credit, they fought back in the second as Brandi Bouchier and Alyssa Boylan tightened up the in defensive circle and there was more pressure on the feeds into Gray and Lock.
Imogen Walker had a strong quarter, converting six-from-nine as she started to shake of Creek’s tight marking.
By the half, the lead had only extended by one and it was much – game on.
However, the third quarter was defining, as Gray again dominated and worked hard both down court and in the shooting circle.
Her 11-from-13 was a big part of East extending the Bulldogs’ lead.
Creek continued to get her hands to balls and McCallum and Sara Smith were choosing the right options on the feed and it saw East enjoy a 13-goal lead.
Georgia Hood kept the Demons in the match with some strong moves and accurate finishing at goal shooter, converting 18-from-24 in the second half to ensure the scoreline never blew out.
Lauren Duncan also ran hard for the Demons, while Zoe Duncan’s battle with Smith was a glimpse into the future of the A Grade competition.
The final quarter saw Lock and Gray at their accurate best, netting 13-from-14 as East ran out 17-goal winners.
