Roos aim to win against new-look Tigers outfit

Emily Hunter Dsc 7036  TBW Newsgroup
STRONG DRIVE: West Gambier's Emily Hunter will provide strong drive through the mid court as the Roos look to claim the points over North Gambier in round four of Western Border netball tomorrow. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

Emily Hunter Dsc 7036 TBW Newsgroup
STRONG DRIVE: West Gambier’s Emily Hunter will provide strong drive through the mid court as the Roos look to claim the points over North Gambier in round four of Western Border netball tomorrow. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

WEST Gambier has beaten East Gambier, drawn with Casterton Sandford when undermanned and demolished South Gambier so the Roos will look forward to testing themselves against 2018 runners-up North Gambier.

Of course, the Tigers are a new look outfit and are still having teething problems as they look to settle on the best combination.

The good news is Alisha Bryan looks to have settled back into the top grade and is back to her accurate best, while Maddie Whaites and Noni McConnell have started to develop a great understanding in the defensive circle.

Mel Renko is the glue that holds the mid court together with her defensive efforts and her strong driving, while Ash Kalantarian has been the key feeder.

At the weekend, the Tigers experimented with a number of combinations and debuted Alycia Close and Sarah Nulty, so there is clearly still some tweaking of the line-up and it is a line-up that will face plenty of challenges from the Roos.

The defensive trio of Maddy Teakle, Amy Cram and Carly Trevilyan do not allow any easy ball and they work well as a unit to deny time and space to opposition forward lines.

Emily Hunter is strong through the mid court, Carlee Ransom was unstoppable at the weekend and was back to her best in terms of hitting the circle and finding connection with the West goalers.

Lisa McGregor was her usual productive self and Tahlia Earl was strong on the hold and accurate on the finish.

The Roos look settled and in sync and probably too strong at this stage to let the Tigers secure the win.

The Tigers, who have also been missing Amanda O’Shaughnessy, a huge out for the mid court and team balance, have had a tough start to 2019 but once they do find their mojo, they will still be a force – just not this weekend.