WEST Gambier came out of the blocks firing in its clash with East Gambier in Round 4 of Western Border netball on the weekend with both ends of the court more than matching it with the 2017 runners-up.
At the attacking end of the court, the ball movement was quick and direct from the opening whistle with Carlee Davey back to her best and both Davey and Bell finding good connection with both Lisa McGregor and Tahlia Earl.
West Gambier 59 d East Gambier 54.
McGregor and Earl combined better than they have for a couple of seasons as they created space for each other and made it tough for the East defenders to deny them possession in good range.
The finishing was also accurate as West built a small early lead but the Bulldogs did settle, showing more patience in offence and working their way back to a two-goal deficit by the first break.
Tenille Gray and the hard running Tarsh McCallum were a huge part of that, with Gray converting 13-from-15 for the quarter.
The match remained a goal-for-goal battle for the duration with West never relinquishing the lead, although scores were often locked in the second half.
Early in the last quarter, West was able to restore what was a game high five-goal buffer, but the Bulldogs continued to fight back.
In the end, Amy Cram was the hero for the Roos.
The defender was battling a calf injury from early in the match but she used her smarts and ability to read the play to take three crucial interceptions and a handful of strong rebounds to ensure
West always stayed on the right side of the scoreboard.
Cram’s combination with Maddy Teakle was back to its best, with Teakle’s work over the show and her rebounding being a key factor.
Bell continues to be a great addition to the West Gambier mid court, while McGregor looked unstoppable and Earl was damaging all game.
For the Bulldogs, McCallum ran hard all day and combined well with Sara Smith to maintain possession as they looked for a way through the relentless Roos defence.
Gray stood as tall as ever as she continued to provide a target in the shooting circle, netting 38-from-42, to ensure East was always in the contest.
Millicent 75 d Casterton Sandford 35
MILLICENT again look like the front-runner in the Western Border Netball Association A Grade competition with another big victory, this time over Casterton Sandford at McLaughlin Park.
Casterton Sandford can not take a trick at the moment.
The Cats lost new recruit Alice Saunders to a season ending ACL injury, while other big-name recruit – Meg Fennell – was forced from the court early on the weekend.
It saw Millicent take complete control of the contest early as the unsettled Cats were forced into error time and time again, while at the other end Demi Verbena and Donna Denton were taking
advantage of the great feeding from Paige Nitschke to finishing accurately.
At quarter time, the score was 22-5 and the Cats made a number of changes.
Tayla Guthrie entered the clash at goal keeper as Abbey Shannon moved out to goal defence and Madalene Cleary moved into the centre.
There was an improved effort from Casterton Sandford in the second but Denton continued to score.
Millicent made its own changes at half time, with Paige Nitschke moving into goals, Hannah Nitschke into centre and Lisa Duldig to wing attack.
Bringing Renae Newell into the shooting circle at the main break, Casterton Sandford found another gear.
The Cats finished more accurately through Newell and Tori Perry, while also creating turnovers through Shannon and Guthrie.
The quarter saw Millicent still take the honours but the 16-12 scoreline was a testament to the improved effort by the Cats.
The final term saw the reigning premiers back on top, but the Cats certainly provided a better challenge than the 40-goal margin suggests.
Denton and Paige Nitschke were best for the Saints, while the hard running and smart feeding of Cleary and Newell’s injection of pace and accuracy into the shooting circle earned the duo the best player honours.
