SOUTH GAMBIER 41 d CASTERTON SANDFORD 32
SOUTH Gambier secured its second win of the season when it hosted Casterton Sandford in less than ideal conditions for quality netball.
The win was set up in the opening quarter when the Demons flew out of the blocks, setting up an eight-goal lead.
In the end, while the remainder of the match was an arm wrestle, the Cats just could not make inroads and succumbed 41-32.
Gracie Dalton was the focal point in the opening quarter and netted 11 from 14 as the teenager stood up under the pressure from Cats’ defenders Ebany Jarrad and Caeleigh Humphries.
At the other end, the defensive pressure from South’s Tully McShane, Ellie Bouchier and Sophie Wight limited the scoring opportunities for Ivy Lane and Madalene Cleary.
Were it not for Lane’s perfect five from five, the scoreline may well have been more damaging at the first change.
Dalton was again prominent in the second but as the conditions deteriorated so did the shooting accuracy and all four goalers struggled in the tough wind and rain.
It was a nine-goal game at the main break and South looked to change things up with Ruby Richter moving to goal keeper, Wight into the centre and Megan Reid to the attacking wing.
The changes neither unsettled the Demons or made a huge change to the ebbs and flow of the match and at the final change it was a 10-goal game.
On the back of some strong finishing from Cleary and Lane, the Cats won the final quarter by one but the first quarter damage remained and South took the points.
Bouchier, who moved from her usual defensive post into the centre for the final quarter, was the Demons’ best, while Richter had an impact both on the attacking wing and at goal keeper.
Humphries and her ability to create turnover ball saw her named the Cats’ best, while Madeline Patton backed up a strong performance in the 17 and Under match with another hard-running and error-free effort in A Grade.
