Picture: JAMES MURPHY
SOUTH GAMBIER 49 d CASTERTON SANDFORD 39
EXPERIENCED defenders Alyce Mourbey and Brandi Bouchier were the architects of South Gambier’s 10-goal victory over Casterton Sandford as the smart duo worked well in tandem, especially for a combination that had not played together before.
They created a lot of turnover ball and did not allow the Cats easy access to their shooters.
With Alyssa Boylan running hard through the middle and Imogen Walker and Georgia Hood finding good space and connection between each other, the Demons always held the slight edge in the contest.
Alyssa Duncan made her A Grade debut on the attacking wing and had a tough, physical contest with Scarlett Jarrad.
Fellow debutante Riley Buckingham took on experienced campaigner Haylee Rhook and improved with each quarter as she started to find her feet at the top level.
It was the Demons by two at the first change and six at the main break after an opening 30 minutes where Walker dominated and converted 19 from 23.
The second quarter turned out to be the one which really turned the match and the Cats looked to fight their way back.
Madalene Cleary was moved from goal defence to centre, Marlee Gartlan from keeper to goal defence, Gaby Tomkins to the attacking wing form centre and Sharna Fidler into the contest at goal keeper.
But Bouchier and Mourbey kept finding a way to stem the Cats’ scoring and give their team mates another opportunity.
Tori Perry and Christine Harris swapped shooting roles in the final quarter and early on it looked to have made a difference, as Perry was more freed up and took more shots, converting 7 from 11 for the quarter.
But with Walker finishing the game with a 10 from 11 effort, South Gambier maintained their buffer and in fact extended it.
