North Gambier v Casterton Sandford It was a busy day at the office for North Gambier goal shooter Grace Potts as she had a day out, scoring 71 of the Tigers’ 90 goals in a comprehensive 56 goal victory over Casterton Sandford.
With the likes of Macey Griffith, Brianna Walters and Mel Renko delivering the ball to the tall shooter, there was little the Cats defenders could do.
Ebany Jarrad was back on court and she certainly contested hard for Casterton Sandford to try and deny Potts so much ball but the supply came thick and fast.
Jarrad moved out to goal defence in the second half, with Libby Altorfer given the goal keeper bib and the height differential proved insurmountable despite Altorfer’s strong leap and tenacity.
The Cats did have an improved scoring rate and the combination of Ivy Lane and Chesley Galpin looks promising, while Madalene Cleary was again the Cats’ best, having an effect in the first half and goal defence before moving to centre in the second half and controlling the mid court for the visitors.
North used the weekend outing to also try some different combinations with Griffith having a quarter in wing attack and utility Lauran Norman having her first run at goal attack for 2023 in the second half.
Millicent v West Gambier
The rematch between 2022 Western Border Netball Association grand finalists Millicent and West Gambier lived up to the hype.
The match was basically a goal for goal contest from the first whistle to the last as both sides worked overtime to limit opportunities for the team’s respective dominant goal shooters.
Not surprisingly both finished as their team’s best player – but it was Sarah Ritter who had the last laugh as West held on for a two goal victory.
Ritter scored 36 from 47, while Millicent’s Tabatha Sanderson converted 32 from 40, missing only two opportunities in the second half.
The respective goal attacks – Lisa McGregor and Demi Verbena – did a mountain of work out front of the two spearheads, while the battle between West’s Tara Bryant and Millicent’s Lillie Paul was one for the ages as two of the brightest mid court talents in the competition ran hard both ways and were both influential in their teams’ fortunes.
Given both these sides normally score well in excess of 60 goals, the 50-48 scoreline shows that both sides had a strong defensive focus, not just in the circle but right down the court and neither side could really establish their favoured quick, direct ball movement.
Trailing by five going into the final quarter, the Saints showed why they are such a respected outfit, throwing everything at the Roos but the reigning premiers were able to hold sway as they too now present as a model of consistency – an emerging trait over the past 18 months.
South Gambier
v East Gambier
The Bulldogs saved their best for last – the last quarter that was, when East Gambier played with an intensity and ferocity that wore down the young South Gambier line-up.
In a game that had been a real arm wrestle, East turned a narrow two goal three quarter time lead into a 12 goal victory, led by the relentless pressure applied by Bo Creek and Morgan Amy, ably assisted by full court defensive effort from the entire East line-up.
South was only able to generate eight final quarter scoring opportunities to East’s 20 and that weight of possession told the story.
Tarsh McCallum was a dominant player in the frenetic final quarter and her leadership was invaluable, while Renee Henke and Casey Horrigan not only presented strongly in the shooting circle, netting 15 from 20 as a combination.
The Demons would have been happy with their first half, leading by one at quarter time and four at the half but just as supply was scarce in the last quarter, that decline in scoring opportunities was evident in the third with only 11 chances to score on offer.
Playing in a milestone game, Indi Dwyer was part of the back three that applied good defensive pressure all day and with Chloe Perryman dominating the mid court, having an impact defensively and in attack, the Bulldogs were basically able to maintain their intensity for longer.
South shooter Gracie Dalton again stood up to the pressure, earning every possession in her battle with Amy, while Ellie Bouchier was the main source of turnover ball for the Demons.
