South Gambier 60 d Casterton Sandford 43
IT all came down to a strong opening half which ensured South Gambier took the points against Casterton Sandford and kept its slim finals dream alive.
On the back of significantly more supply, the Demons were able to build a 15-goal half-time lead, which was enough to secure the honours as an even second half followed.
The underrated South mid court had a huge influence on the contest as Megan Reid and Tully McShane drove hard through the centre third and hit the circle hard.
Ruby Richter made the defensive wing her own with some critical turnover ball which ensured Lara Munro and Alyssa Duncan were given plenty of scoring opportunities.
The duo netted 33 from 42 in the opening half.
Were it not for the accuracy of the Cats’ shooting combination of Ivy Lane and Madalene Cleary, who converted 18 from 21, the half-time scoreline could have been much worse.
The Cats owned the third quarter and reduced the 15-goal deficit to seven by the last change.
Coach Jodie Humphries rejigged the defensive line, moving Tessa Marra to goal defence and she teamed with Ebany Jarrad in the circle, while 100-gamer Charlotte Rice moved to the defensive wing.
The efforts of the back three caused scoring opportunities to diminish for the Demons and as Makayla Hutchins and Phoebe Carlin started to find the circle’s edge more easily, the score started to flow.
Lane was the main target and she netted 13 from 14 to ensure the Cats were still in the hunt going into the last.
However, the strong response from the home side seemed to spark the South defensive line into action.
While the accuracy remained for the Cats, they could not earn enough ball as Richter, Ellie Bouchier and Mykaela Thiele lifted the intensity in defence.
Munro and Duncan also rewarded those efforts, converting 16 from 17 as South pushed back out to a 17-goal victory.
