WEST GAMBIER 58 d EAST GAMBIER 44
WEST Gambier showed it means business in the 2019 Western Border netball season, with a strong 14-goal win over East Gambier.
Both teams unveiled new players at Malseed Park, but the Roos certainly had the more stable line-up with Lisa McGregor and Tahlia Earl still the shooting combination.
Carlee Ransom (Davey) still played the key link feeding role at wing attack, while Amy Cram and Maddy Teakle did the job defensively.
Youngster Emily Dawe earned her first A Grade call up for West after Carly Trevilyan succumbed to illness and the teenager looked comfortable in the top senior grade.
New recruit Emily Hunter already looks to have a good understanding with Ransom and was a strong addition to the West mid court in the season opener.
The victory was built on the back of the defensive efforts of Teakle and Cram, who shut down space for the East shooting combination and earned plenty of turnover ball over the four quarters.
The Bulldogs chances were not helped by many of the A Grade line-up also needing to play A Reserve, so not surprisingly the majority of the damage was done in the final quarter when fatigue came into play.
Leading by three at quarter time, four at the half and five at three quarter time, the Roos put the foot down in the final stanza to secure the 14-goal win.
Sharna McKinnon made her A Grade debut for the Bulldogs, while Jacinta Clark returned to A Grade ranks to boost the experience at the defensive end and Morgan Amy took on the challenge of limiting the influence of McGregor.
At the other end, Teakle made it a tough opening for new Bulldog Brittany Ross, but it was always going to take a few rounds for the new attack line to gel.
Reigning association best and fairest Tenille Gray still stood tall and shot 32 of the Bulldogs goals, while Tarsh McCallum ran hard all day, but in the end, the Roos were just too strong.
