Mount Burr 58 d Kongorong 26
Mount Burr hosted Kongorong in Round 3 of Mid South East netball and cruised to a comfortable victory.
The game started with a few turnovers that went Kongorong’s way and a two-goal lead resulted before Mount Burr had scored and settled into the game.
As the quarter progressed, Mount Burr defenders in Simone Westerman (WD), Madi Hagget (GD) and Olivia Dean (GK) caused turnovers and made the most of missed goal scoring opportunities, with scores tied at 15-all at the first break.
The Mozzies began the second term with a little more intent, with strong defensive pressure denying the Kongorong goalies scoring opportunities and converting themselves to add scoreboard pressure.
Ebony Clark was the focal point in the circle, while Laura Schultz (C) and Meg Fennell (WA) drove strongly and fed Clark with accuracy.
Kongorong shooter Tilah Buckingham worked hard for possession to give her team the ability to score, while Rach Perry worked tirelessly to move the ball down court for Kongorong.
However, Schultz and Westerman continued to make it difficult for the attack line to use the circle edge to feed their goalies, which allowed Haggett and Dean to turn the ball over and drive it strongly into attack.
By the main break the Mozzies pressure resulted in an 18-goal lead to blow the game apart.
From there it was a tough task for Kongorong, with changes made to try to wrestle the game back.
Megan Bowering (GS), Zara Vonstanke (WA) and Kelsey Widdison (GD) came on from the bench, while Perry went to wing defence.
Bowering made an immediate impact with greater movement and desire for the ball, allowing Kongorong many more scoring shots for the quarter.
Haggett and Dean continued to take intercepts and mop up rebounds, while Fennell’s work rate and passing to the goalies was a highlight for Mount Burr in attack.
Kongorong lifted, while Mount Burr looked somewhat unsettled, making uncharacteristic unforced errors.
Kongorong demonstrated greater patience coming out of defence but Mount Burr continued to edge away through the outstanding presence of Clark in the goal circle, who shot 13 of the 15 goals for the quarter.
The lead had opened up to 25 goals by the final break, with the Mozzies home.
However, Kongorong did not give up, with more changes to try to stem the tide in the final term.
Perry returned to centre, Buckingham to goal defence and Widdison to wing defence.
The game slowed in pace and intercepts were taken by both teams in the warm conditions.
Buckingham’s move to goal defence paid off, giving Kongorong more chance to move the ball into attack.
However, Mount Burr’s dominance in defence though Haggett and Dean limited any scoring opportunities.
The end result saw a deserved victory to the Mozzies and a tough day out for Kongorong.
