Millicent 71 d North Gambier 52
MILLICENT is now the clear premiership favourite following a commanding 19-goal win over second-placed North Gambier in Round 12 of Western Border netball at Vansittart Park on Saturday.
The win was set up in the opening quarter when the Saints defensive line of Hayley Dunn, Kimmi Varcoe and Madi Turner disallowed their opponents any easy ball.
The defensive pressure was compounded by the speed of ball in transition as the reigning premiers piled on 21 goals while keeping North to just nine.
Having lost Hannah Nitschke to a serious collision injury in the 17 and Under game, the Saints started with Paige Nitschke on the attacking wing.
Nitschke found the circle’s edge and fed the ball with accuracy to Donna Denton and Demi Verbena, as it appeared the Tigers were in for a tough day.
To North’s credit, it regrouped and came out more competitive in the second quarter.
The hard running of Amanda O’Shaughnessy paid dividends, Ellie Gould used her front cuts and strong drives to great effect, while Caroline Davey was never out of the contest.
At the other end, Maddie Whaites and Jordyn Adams started to work more closely as a combination and at least made Millicent earn their scoring opportunities.
The Saints still managed to extend their lead by a couple of goals, but the Tigers were still in the hunt.
The third quarter was the home side’s best.
Adams and Whaites won some critical ball and kept Millicent to its lowest quarter score for the match, and despite making some changes – moving Ash Kalantarian into centre and bringing Emily
Close onto the defensive wing – North was able to still transition with more fluency and stay in touch, without being able to make any inroads.
Dunn, Varcoe and Turner did not release the pressure valve defensively, with Varcoe coming off the player to take a number of interceptions and Turner also attacking the ball at every opportunity
and limiting the influence of dangerous wing attack Kaitlin Egan, who was coming off a stellar month of netball.
In the final quarter, Egan moved into the shooting circle, with Kalantarian heading to the attacking wing and O’Shaughnessy returning to the middle.
However, the changes did not have the desired affect as Millicent put the foot down again to record a 19-goal victory.
The Tigers would be happy with the second and third quarters and disappointed with such a lacklustre start, while the high output from Gould and the continued development of the Adams-Whaites defensive combination also looms as a huge positive.
The Saints would be thrilled with their defensive pressure – a not often complimented part of their game and yet so often the foundation on which this dynasty has been built, while Lisa Duldig looks to have overcome her knee injury and Paige Nitschke continues to shine at wing attack.
Verbena was forced from the court with cramp with a few minutes to play but will recover for this weekend’s clash with the cats, seeing Lucy Denton join her mother Donna in the shooting circle for the first time at A Grade level.
West Gambier 68 d South Gambier 44
IF West Gambier brings the form it brought to the first half against South Gambier, the Roos could trouble some of the top sides come the business end of the Western Border netball season.
The Roos were relentless in defence, turning the ball over at will, and their ball movement was slick and the finishing outstanding, especially Lisa McGregor, who netted 26-from-27 for the half, while shooting partner Tahlia Earl provided her share of headaches and also finished accurately.
The 22-8 opening quarter ensured the game was basically over and with a 38-18 half time scoreline, there really was no way back for the Demons.
Maddy Teakle and Amy Cram set up the dominant half, either taking critical interceptions, or forcing the Demons forward line, which was missing Georgia Hood – who was away on softball duties – into error-after-error.
South did step it up in the third quarter, working much harder to slow the ball movement for the Roos and also playing with better patience in offence.
Both Tilah Buckingham and Imogen Walker started to find better shooting position, converting 15-from-18 for the quarter between them, while at the other end, Brandi Bouchier and Alyssa Boylan started to cause turnovers.
The clash between Carlee Davey and Zoe Duncan was the battle of the day with the honours shared.
Duncan often denied Davey the access to the circle’s edge, but Davey was also able to get off the chain and when she drove to the top or went on the longer leads to the pockets her delivery into Earl and McGregor was pinpoint.
Jess Bell was at her brilliant best, creating a number of defensive stops as well as using her pace to great effect in attack with some impressive long-range feeds into the shooting circle.
West did gain ascendancy again in the final quarter, taking it by six goals, but the lapses in the second half, especially the third quarter would not have pleased coach McGregor.
There were no lapses from the star goaler, who followed up her stellar first half with a 22-from-23 effort in the second half.
Maggie Kipping looked back in the groove after her absence from the court and she worked hard to keep South coach Lauren Duncan away from good feeding position.
The Demons coach was still influential but as with the battle on the opposite wing, it was an even battle.
Caitlin Grubb was impressive in her elevation from A Reserve, running hard both ways and delivering some good ball into Buckingham and Walker, while Boylan and Bouchier were bombarded in the first half, but still managed to be disruptive and make life a lot tougher for the Roos attack line in the second half.
East Gambier 69 d Casterton Sandford 31
CASTERTON Sandford was no match for East Gambier, despite the home-court advantage in Round 12 of Western Border netball on Saturday.
The Cats have been plagued by player unavailability in 2018 – from the season ending injuries to Scarlett Jarrad and Alice Alexander to other short term injuries and work and other commitments.
This weekend took that uncertainty to a new level when only half an hour before the start of play, the Cats were able to call up former star Shanae Guthrie.
Guthrie slipped into sister Tayla’s uniform to return to the netball court for the first time in three years – a big ask for the tall goal shooter – who clearly grew across the game, considering she had not played a game at any level during that three years.
The Cats also had to start Ellen Bowman on the attacking wing with Madi Mutch on the defensive wing, causing a bit of upheaval from usual starting roles in the mid court, with the late withdrawal of Tori Perry taking away a wealth of experience.
The scoreboard reflected that uncertain preparation and the Bulldogs dominated from the outset, building on the lead each quarter to run out 38-goal winners.
Tenille Gray was a standout and while defender Abbey Shannon and Sharna Fidler never stopped searching for ways to deny the star goal attack the ball.
However, it was a tough ask and Gray won plenty of possession and finished accurately.
Sarah Lock came into her own in the second half, mixing up her game with some strong drives, as well as making good position in the shooting circle.
Sara Smith had one of her best games in 2018, finding the circle’s edge with ease and feeding with precision.
She even had a run in centre in the second half and was able to maintain her good form to be one of the Bulldogs’ best.
Bo Creek, Morgan Amy and Tyne Bosko also had strong outings, denying Casterton Sandford’s forward line time and space and pouncing on any errant passes.
Tarsh McCallum entered the game under an illness cloud, moving to wing attack after half time and then coming off with about five minutes to play, handing dynamic teenage mid courter Caitlin McMahon her A Grade debut.
The Cats were best served by the always hard working Bowman, who moved to the defensive wing in the second half, when Haylee Rhook entered the clash at wing attack, while Shannon continues to be the shining light for the Cats, with another strong performance in defence.
The good news for Casterton Sandford fans is she may also have had her anticipated departure to work in Western Australia pushed back and might still be here for a few more games this season yet.
