A GRADE – PENOLA 57 d KEITH 47
PENOLA’S A Grade netball team claimed a 10-goal win over Keith in round 15 of the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara netball season on Saturday, which was played indoors at the Crows’ home courts.
A tight first half saw both teams find good space in the goal circle.
On two occasions Keith managed to push to a four-goal lead, but solid defensive pressure from Alana Winter allowed Sarah Lock and April Possingham to convert with precision in the Eagles’ attack.
Penola was one goal down at half time, but came out firing in the third, moving the ball with patience and executing delivery into the goalies to win the quarter 18-10.
Sally Skeer ran hard all day to make some great defensive stops and fed well, particularly to Lock who was dominant in goal attack.
Her movement and quick hands, as well as polished finishing earned her the best-on-court honours for the match.
Goal shooter Possingham was also in fine form, shooting at 93pc for the match to score 35 goals, while the ever-consistent Skeer was recognised as second best for the match.
The result was welcomed after the Eagles fell short against Keith by just four goals back in round three of the competition.
Penola will now set its sights on a percentage boosting win over ninth placed Kaniva Leeor United this weekend.
A RESERVE – PENOLA 49 d KEITH 48
THE top-of-the-table clash between Penola and Keith’s A Reserve sides lived up to expectations, as the Eagles secured the bragging rights by just one goal to remain undefeated for 2019.
Penola started the first quarter slightly sluggish and had to fight back hard to level the scores on 12-all at quarter time.
In the second term the Eagles found their rhythm and pushed ahead to a five-goal half-time lead.
However, some execution errors in the third term left the side scrambling to stay in front, but Penola held onto the lead by two goals at the final change.
Another tight quarter ensued and the Eagles managed to hold on for the slimmest of victories.
Indi Venebles injected some drive through the centre in the final term and Ash Earl continued to shoot accurately.
She shot at 90pc for the match to convert 36 of her 40 attempts, while not missing a goal in the second half.
Earl’s efforts saw her rightly named best-on-court for the victors.
Defenders Chloe Long, Chelsea Bradley and Lauren Foster worked tirelessly against a tough forward line and created opportunities at critical moments.
Michelle Moore was also strong all game, playing her best game for the season to be named second best.
The result sees the last five encounters with Keith all decided by five goals or less and points towards an exciting finals campaign for the two sides.
B GRADE – PENOLA 54 d KEITH 45
THE Penola B Grade team travelled to Keith on Saturday and claimed a nine-goal win.
Once again it was a top-of-the-table affair, with a close result expected.
The Eagles hit the court over eager and with a few nerves, but after the first five minutes they settled and played their usual steady game.
Keith capitalised on the shaky start to hold a three-goal advantage at the first break.
However, with changes to Penola’s lineup, the Eagles started to spread their wings and dominated the second and third quarters with accurate shooting and classy turnovers.
The result was a 16-goal turnaround, which helped the guests to steal the lead and hold on until the final whistle.
Keith stepped up in the fourth term, but Penola had a strong lead and finished with a well-earned win against its closest rival.
In a four-quarter team performance, Kerry Dent received the best-on-court award for the Eagles.
C GRADE – KEITH 43 d PENOLA 39
IT was a closer than expected outcome when fifth-placed Penola faced ladder leader Keith in round 15 of C Grade Kowree Naracoorte Tatiare netball.
The Eagles hit the road for the clash and returned home with a narrow four-goal defeat against the benchmark of the competition.
The first quarter was a tight affair and scores were locked at nine goals apiece at the first change.
Keith lifted its intensity in the second term in the mid-court defence, which caused some errors for Penola and allowed the home team out to an eight-goal lead.
To Penola’s credit, it settled late in the quarter and was able to fight back to within two goals at half time.
The second half saw every ball contested and all players striving, contributing and giving their all in the pressure contest.
Unfortunately, Penola could not sustain the intensity and Keith capitalised in the ring to come away the victor.
However, there were several positives to come from the clash, with Paula Wishart and Ruby Moore named as the Eagles’ best.
17 and UNDER – KEITH 40 d PENOLA 36
PENOLA’S 17 and Under side was back to full strength when it faced an evenly matched Keith on Saturday.
But despite the return of injured players, the Eagles could not quite put down the Crows, with a close four-goal deficit at the end of the match.
Ebonie Moulton and Ruby Moore led the charge with strong passes and great drives in the forward line, but at the first break Keith held a three-goal lead.
The second quarter saw a strong start from Penola, but the lights going out slowed the game up.
After the game restarted, Keith found momentum to stretch the lead to nine goals, but Penola’s Shakayla Summerhayes and Anna Marcus worked hard in the goal circle to bring the margin back to five.
The second half was by far the best result for the team, with Kate Skeer and Jess Snell moving the ball well into the forward line to gain important turnovers.
The whole team worked well together to win the last quarter, keeping Keith scoreless in the final 10 minutes.
However, the Crows’ lead was too much and the hosts won by four goals.
Ebonie Moulton and Snell were named as Penola’s best players.
16 and UNDER – KEITH 57 d PENOLA 23
PENOLA came out firing in its 16 and Under clash against Keith, but it was not enough as it suffered a 34-goal defeat.
However, the scoreline did not reflect the closeness of the competition, as both teams put in 100pc for four quarters.
The Penola defensive pressure was strong all the way down the court, but the accuracy of the Crows’ goalies proved deadly.
Maddie Copping worked tirelessly for the Eagles, chasing every loose ball and feeding into the ring beautifully.
She was named as Penola’s best, while Harmoniee Smith used great voice and drive and worked hard for front position to be awarded second best.
15 and UNDER – KEITH 52 d PENOLA 39
IN a fast game indoors, Penola’s 15 and Under team was only five goals down at half time, when a light malfunction halted the game.
The longer break played to Keith’s advantage and by the end of the third term the Crows had established a handy 15-goal lead.
Penola made some changes and in the last quarter and played solid netball to peg back the lead somewhat, but were unable to narrow the deficit beyond 13 goals.
Lucy Catlin and Kasey Venables were named as the Eagles’ best for the match.
13 and UNDER A – KEITH 41 d PENOLA 21
PENOLA started well in its 13 and Under A clash against Keith, but the Crows gained momentum and were able to eventually run away with the game.
The hosts held a five-goal lead at the first break and continued their fast pace into half time.
Penola’s best quarter was the third, with continued effort and hard work, but the unsettled Eagles were unable to secure the honours, going down by 20 goals in the end.
Tess Porter was recognised as Penola’s best player.
13 and UNDER B – KEITH d PENOLA
THE 13 and Under B Penola netball team impressed its coach on Saturday, despite going down to Keith.
The Eagles did all that was asked of them and played some solid netball, but unfortunately it was not quite enough on the day.
Strong feeding into the goalies was met with intense defensive pressure from the Crows and small errors let Penola down and allowed the hosts to gain the ascendancy.
For their hard efforts on the court Zara Kellett and Nellie Lear were given the coach’s awards.
13MOD
THE littlest Eagles thrived indoors on the floorboards on Saturday when they went up against Keith.
Penola’s youngsters played a good game, dodging and coming back to the ball, using their outside arm in defence and throwing strong one-handed shoulder passes.
It is a credit to their work ethic at training and on Saturdays.
Matilda Marlow received the player’s award for putting all she had learned at training into action on game day.
