The Mid South East Netball Association kicked off the season with matches with some comprehensive victories across the region.
Nangwarry v Port MacDonnell
The Nangwarry netball courts were buzzing with excitement on Saturday as the club kicked off its 2025 season in warm weather, and Port Mac were seemingly just as keen as the Saints to get going for the first game.
Port Mac were able to settle any nerves and find their groove sooner than the new looking Nangwarry side though.
The Demons had the first centre pass and were able to convert that quickly with accurate shooting from goal shooter young gun Bailee Lewis, who had already played an outstanding game in Under 17s.
Down the other end of the court, goal defence Alysha Coon was working overtime with her pressure and strength down the court, turning the ball over multiple times, helping her team score throughout the first term.
Returning Nangwarry player Emalee Stokker was able to hold her ground beautifully in the goal circle for the Saints and with that was able to secure her team five goals for the quarter.
With the change of Maddi Stephens from WD to WA for the Saints, the ball was able to be moved through the centre court a little easier.
Saints captain Kayla Gray showed her strength and height in the circle, putting on pressure and working hard for rebounds.
However, up against the agility and strength of Megan Hein in goals for the Bay, the Saints were unable to stop the score of 17 for the Demons.
Only Port Mac made changes at the first break, swapping captain Shannon Scheidl and Sophie Lewis in the centre court.
Both players showed their speed and strength for the Bay, working hard and using amazing pressure to turn the ball over for their team.
Talented youngster Layla McPherson showed some great skill in at WD for the Bay, alongside the strong Emily Thompson at GK, making the defensive line hard to fault and forcing the Saints to make some errors in their attack line.
Nangwarry was able to find their feet and settle the nerves in this term though, executing some great plays and working hard to get any loose balls when possible.
Kate Biszko at GD for the Saints was able to read the ball beautifully and find herself some amazing intercepts.
Down the other end for Nangwarry, new player Jess Stutley worked hard to gain some space in the circle and found herself scoring her first goals playing in this league.
Nangwarry were held to scoring just four for the term, but the determination and teamwork from this side did not show on the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, Port Mac netted 14 for the quarter after some impressive work by all seven players.
At half time both teams were to make changes, with Port Mac swapping their goalies and Scheidl swapping into GD and Coon moving into centre.
Nangwarry changed Claire Ferguson, who had worked tirelessly at centre for the first half to WD, bringing Nangwarry Under 17 up and comer Sky Virtanen into centre.
Port Mac came out guns blazing with strong passes, defensive pressure all the way down the court and it seemed like this team had been playing together for seasons.
The passing in by Coon and Sophie Lewis were on point, helping Bailee Lewis and Hein add another 15 to the scoreboard.
Nangwarry refused to let up as they continuously strived to keep their centre passes and it was obvious the teamwork between these girls and the support for each other was something to be admired.
Biszko and Gray worked overtime to try and gain any rebounds or loose balls for their team.
Stutley and Stokker found their range and moved well in the circle to add an impressive eight to their score.
Virtanen was all over the court for the Saints, picking off passes when possible and working hard to bring the ball down.
Once again only the Bay made changes in the final term with Hein moving into defence and Lilly Day brought on to the court at GS.
Day had already played an impressive game in A Reserve, and was a great addition to the Demons side, shooting nine for the quarter with 100% accuracy.
Bailee Lewis yet again worked well in goals, moving beautifully and shooting six for the term.
The ability to read the ball coming down the court, coupled with Hein in at GD, was able to put a lot of pressure on the Saints, forcing Nangwarry to make some errors while feeding the ball to their goalies.
The hard work that Biszko and Gray put in defensively for the Saints helped the girls settle and gain some confidence.
In addition to those two, Claire Ferguson worked hard to try and cut her player out of the game.
Stokker and Stutley again worked to find their space in the circle for the Saints, using Stephens’ strength on the outside of the circle, adding a high score of nine to their score.
In a game that was an amazing showcase of talent, great sportsmanship and positive feedback from both clubs, Port MacDonnell took the win 61-26.
Kate Biszko and Emalee Stokker were named best players for Nangwarry, while for Port MacDonnell it was Sophie Lewis and Megan Hein.
Mount Burr v Kalangadoo
The game started with both teams taking their time to settle into a free-flowing game.
Mount Burr’s Ashleigh Widdison and Kalangadoo’s Ebony McDiarmid were the focal point in the goal circle, shooting at 100%.
Laura Schultz (Mount Burr) and Jane Auld (Kalangadoo) both worked tirelessly through the centre, driving the ball to the circle edge.
Kalangadoo’s GD Lara Munro forced turnovers with hands over pressure, helping Kalangadoo to create an eight goal lead at quarter time.
After a strong start to the quarter by Kalangadoo, the Burr made changes with Ashlee Dean moving to WA and Maddie Gamble into GD.
Gamble worked hard outside of the circle to limit Kalangadoo’s Abbey Duncan’s drive, however Jayde Peacock at WA continued to feed McDiarmid, creating countless scoring opportunities.
The Mozzies were unable to capitalise on scoring opportunities and Kalangadoo’s defenders converted these missed goals.
At half time Kalangadoo had a 16-goal lead.
Kalangadoo moved Georgia Gentile to GK and Shanae Neale was brought into the game at WD, while Mount Burr made numerous changes, attempting to improve scoring opportunities.
Duncan and McDiarmid combined to shoot accurately, with an effective transition from Munro and Gentile’s defensive turnovers.
Schultz and Ella Easterby (WA for Mount Burr) drove the ball to circle edge, combining well with Ash Dean at GA.
Kalangadoo’s pace down court was the difference, going into the final quarter with a 24-goal lead.
Ash Dean stepped up at GA, being the focal point in the Mount Burr goal circle.
Kalangadoo’s attack line continued to move the ball efficiently, making the most of every defensive turnover.
Widdison and Olivia Dean applied pressure, creating turnovers to help Mount Burr to have greater opportunities in goals.
Kalangadoo adapted to the first game of the 2025 season, due to their experience with their current combinations.
This helped them to a 28-goal victory, 63-35.
Robe v Glencoe
Robe hosted Glencoe in their season opener, with the seasiders unable to match the Murphies at the final whistle.
Saturday’s game proved that this season is going to consist of some tough matches.
Both Robe and Glencoe started off very strong, yet Glencoe broke through with a 12-goal lead at half time.
There were a few tactical changes with the versatility that Robe had that were put into play in the third quarter.
However, Glencoe proved too strong this time round.
Heading into the last quarter Robe put it all out on the court, with exceptional plays, strong defence and control winning the last quarter by two goals.
Glencoe took the win 51-36.
Robe’s best players were Emma Wheal and Sarah Laurie, with Zoe Mulraney and Alyce Finnis best for Glencoe.
Kongorong v Hatherleigh
The first quarter of the game between Kongorong Hawks and Hatherleigh Eagles was a tightly contested affair.
Both teams took time to settle into the rhythm of the match, with neither side managing to dominate early on.
Kongorong showed great intent in their attacking play, moving the ball well and using quick passes to break through the Eagles’ defence.
Mahli Pannenburg was particularly influential, shooting an impressive 10 from 13 attempts, making her the standout player for the Hawks.
Hatherleigh, though under pressure, responded well, with Olivia Slattery sinking seven out of 10 shots to keep her team in touch.
The first quarter ended with Kongorong narrowly ahead, leading 12-10.
The early stages revealed that both teams were capable of applying pressure, but Kongorong’s efficiency in attack gave them a slight edge going into the break.
At half time the Eagles had turned the game around, taking a 21-18 lead.
Kongorong struggled with accuracy, particularly in attack, where they made a series of nervous errors, allowing Hatherleigh to capitalise on their mistakes.
The windy conditions seemed to affect both teams, as the shooting accuracy from both sides dropped, making it a scrappy and tense second quarter.
Hatherleigh made a key positional change when Erin Watson moved from centre to WD and Kalli Nettle shifted from WD to centre.
This adjustment allowed the Eagles to tighten up defensively and gain control of the midcourt.
Kongorong’s attack, meanwhile, lacked the fluidity of the first quarter, and they were unable to overcome the Eagles’ defensive pressure.
Despite the shift in momentum, the game remained close and both teams went into the break with plenty to play for.
The third quarter saw Hatherleigh increase their lead, moving ahead to 36-28.
The Eagles made further tactical changes, moving Rosie Nettle to centre, Erin Watson to WA and Asha Gysbers to WD, all of which seemed to work in their favour.
The changes allowed Hatherleigh to settle in the midcourt, disrupting Kongorong’s offensive flow.
Kongorong, in contrast, struggled with their accuracy, failing to convert a number of scoring opportunities.
Hatherleigh’s Olivia Slattery remained in fine form, shooting 10 of 14 attempts to further extend her team’s advantage.
The Hawks seemed to lose their earlier momentum, and despite some strong individual performances, they could not close the gap.
The defensive pressure from both teams was high, but it was the Eagles who adapted better to the conditions and made the most of their opportunities.
Both teams continued to apply pressure as they ran out the game in the final quarter, but the margin remained the same.
Kongorong was unable to make any significant inroads into the Eagles’ lead, despite their best efforts.
There were no player changes, and both teams played out the game in an even and hard-fought manner.
Kongorong’s Samantha Ham was a standout for the Hawks, proving influential in attack.
She caused havoc through the middle of the court, providing a spark for her team and creating opportunities for the shooters.
Ham’s tenacity and strong court play were the best attempts by the Hawks to keep themselves in the game, but despite her efforts, the Eagles’ defence held firm.
The defensive pressure remained a highlight for both teams, as each side struggled to break through the other’s defence.
Kongorong’s Emily Lightbody and Rach Perry stood out for their efforts throughout the match, showing composure and determination, earning them best on for the Hawks.
For Hatherleigh, Lara McGregor and Demi Vanderhorst were the key contributors, particularly in defence and transition play.
The final whistle blew with the Eagles securing a 47-38 victory, marking a solid start to their season.
