A GRADE – WEST GAMBIER 69 d MILLICENT 43
IT was safe to say nothing went right for Millicent in the A Grade netball preliminary final.
They were behind the eight ball right from the first quarter as West Gambier pressured the usually composed Saints into error.
Sarah Ritter announced she was in stellar form in the 19 from 20 in the opening 15 minutes.
It saw West enjoy an eight-goal lead at the first change after a quarter where Lisa McGregor often chose to bypass what was a tenacious, hard working Saints defence by delivering the ball from long-range to Ritter at the post.
Things settled in the second quarter, with Millicent finding better rhythm in offence, as Lisa Duldig moved to centre and Lillie Paul to the attacking wing getting some important touches defensively.
Edie Easterby had an impact with her ability to create turnover.
West still managed to win the quarter by one to ensure they enjoyed a nine-goal half time lead.
The Roos put the result beyond doubt in the third as deflections from Millicent defenders fell back into the hands of Roos players while any tight decisions just did not go the Saints way.
With Tara Bryant and Jess Holmes moving the ball quickly and Ritter continuing to find space, converting 16 from 17 for the quarter, the lead blew out to 19 by three quarter time.
The final quarter did fizzle out as West went on to secure a 26-goal victory.
The defensive pressure from West all over the court certainly played a role in the comprehensive victory but the comfortable margin did create a match saw both sides applying incredible pressure, with an inordinate amount of held ball calls as teams just couldn’t find space.
Even when the scoreboard was getting away, Paul continued to run hard and in the final quarter, in particular, she picked up a raft of interceptions.
Nikeisha Facey and Demi Verbena, who had to do a mountain of work to help move the ball through the West defence, made the most of limited opportunities while Easterby was again the pick of the defenders, taking some incredible interceptions.
In the end, Millicent attracted too much whistle and could not stop the West Gambier scoring machine with the Roos now set to take on North Gambier in the season decider.
