MILLICENT 67 d NORTH GAMBIER 55
SMARTING from its first Anzac Day loss in a decade, North Gambier came out of the blocks firing at McLaughlin Park when it faced Millicent in a hard-fought Round 4 Western Border netball clash.
Heading into the match it loomed as a battle of the tall shooters, with Tabatha Sanderson dominating under the post for Millicent and North’s Caroline Wakefield – who was again named in the Tigers’ best – both in fine form.
Millicent held a one-goal lead at quarter time as Sanderson netted a perfect 15 from 15, while Wakefield was strongly supported by young-gun Macey Griffith who netted six from seven in her critical support role.
The tables turned slightly in the second term and Wakefield was the perfect shooter with 13 from 13 but the Saints were able to maintain a slim two-goal advantage at the main break.
The arm wrestle continued in the third as North reconfigured its mid court.
Ash Kalantarian moved to centre and Brianna Walters shifted to the attacking wing.
At the final change it was a one-goal game with Millicent just in front.
In a somewhat surprising move, it was the Saints who made the wholesale changes heading into the last.
Lillie Paul returned to the court with the centre bib, Hannah Nitschke took the goal defence bib and Georgia Clarke moved out to wing defence.
For a club which so often backs its system and wears teams down it was a bold move but one which paid dividends.
The home side won the final quarter 19-8 to produce a final score which did not truly reflect the tightness of the contest.
Millicent was best served by Demi Verbena and Paige Nitschke who did a mountain of work out the front of Sanderson.
Defender Mel Renko was the Tigers’ best – not just for her tight checking defensive efforts and ability to disrupt, but for her strong work through the mid court in transition.
Wakefield was also dominant again, with 42 goals from 47 attempts, earning a place in the best for the fourth time from as many rounds.
