EAST GAMBIER 66 d CASTERTON SANDFORD 36
IT is safe to say Casterton Sandford would have gone to the quarter time huddle shell shocked in its round four Western Border netball clash.
East Gambier came out of the blocks firing and took the quarter 17-4 to set up what would eventually be a comprehensive victory.
It was arguably the best performance by Brittany Ross and Tenille Gray as a shooting combination, while the full-court defence of the Bulldogs ensured they won plenty of turnover ball to allow the scoreboard to end up so lopsided.
Gray, who was again a standout for the Bulldogs, netted 16 goals from 20 attempts in the opening quarter as she dominated the match with her strong positioning and impressive
drives.
The Cats had no answer to the Bulldogs onslaught, but wasted no time responding, with goalers Tori Perry and Christine Harris swapping roles.
Perry went out to goal attack and Gaby Tomkins was forced from the court with injury, giving Gabby Sullivan the opportunity to take the wing attack bib.
The attack line of the Cats did step it up in the second term, with Harris relishing the role under the post where she converted nine from 11 as the Cats scoring improved.
But they still lost the quarter by nine as Gray again was the focal point, netting 13 from 14, while Ross was also on song, winning more ball in shooting range and sinking eight of her own.
The 22-goal half time deficit saw the Cats again look to the bench as Harris moved to goal defence, bringing youngster Chelsey Galpin into goal shooter.
It was a tough ask though, with the Bulldogs again working hard defensively.
Tarsh McCallum and Tyne Bosko created a number of mid court turnovers, while, as they had all game, Morgan Amy and Jacinta Clark pressured the Cats into error on the feed and the shot, then ensuring every missed opportunity was a turnover.
The third quarter was again basically one-way traffic as East piled on 18 goals to the Cats’ six.
Ross and Gray were again unstoppable, converting 18 from 23 attempts, as the Bulldogs went into the final quarter with a 34-goal advantage.
Casterton Sandford certainly did not throw in the towel, winning the final quarter by four goals, built on the back of Perry’s perfect seven from seven, but the damage had well and truly been done and the points went the way of the Bulldogs.
