HATHERLEIGH 54 D ROBE 41
THREE strong quarters from Hatherleigh was enough to overcome a determined Robe in Round 13 of Mid South East netball on Saturday.
The game started with both teams playing with intensity and speed, going goal-for-goal.
Erin Watson and Rosie Nettle were made to work hard for Hatherleigh to get the ball into the attack, with plenty of pressure from Robe’s Annie Regnier and Ellen Ramke.
Strong rebounding by Maddie Redman and Lara MacGregor, with Tegan Telfer getting many hands to the ball, gave Hatherleigh extra opportunities to score, while Regnier and Lucy Perkins showed great patience to feed into Robe goalies Sarah Laurie and Tori Gluyas.
Both teams shot accurately, but Hatherleigh took the lead late to be up by three goals at the first break.
A couple of changes by Robe saw Ramke move into goal defence and Alannah Jennings come on at wing defence.
Both teams started the quarter with the same level of intensity, but as the rain fell, Hatherleigh extended its lead, with Nettle having a strong, physical battle with Jennings, while MacGregor continued to make her presence felt.
Demi Vanderhorst increased her work rate to cause many a turnover in the mid-court for Hatherleigh, while Regnier and Perkins continued to work hard around the circle for Robe, but Redman and MacGregor made it difficult for them to find their goalies.
Ramke and Georgia Perkins found it difficult to stop Hatherleigh’s Maddie Pulmer and Vanderhorst, who were moving and working together well.
With Hatherleigh stepping up and taking charge in the second term, the Eagles went into the main break with a 10-goal lead.
Robe made another change heading into the third term, going back to their original line up, while Hatherleigh remained unchanged.
A quick start by Hatherleigh saw the lead extend further due to accurate shooting from Pulmer, who was well fed Watson and Nettle.
Robe’s Emma Grant returned to the court and started to make an impact, getting her hands to the ball and helping give Robe more opportunities to score, with Regnier and Perkins combining well down the court to get the ball quickly into their attack line.
Hatherleigh appeared to tire as the quarter wore on, while Robe’s intensity never faltered.
A fast-finishing end to the quarter saw Robe out-score Hatherleigh 13-9, with accurate shooting from both Laurie and Gluyas to reduce Hatherleigh’s lead to only six goals going into the final stanza.
Both teams remained unchanged for the last quarter and it was clear all players were determined to leave nothing in the tank.
The intensity and pressure on the court was evident as it went goal-for-goal.
Hatherleigh started to get more of it through the high work rate of Redman and MacGregor, who were well supported by Telfer providing great drive out of defence.
Some early missed opportunities to convert on the scoreboard kept Robe in the game and supporters on the edge of their seats.
Robe continued to fight for everything but failed to make any real impact on Hatherleigh’s lead.
In the end the Eagles ran out 54-41 victors after a tough contest.
Best players for Hatherleigh were Watson and Pulmer, with Regnier and Perkins best for Robe.
