WEST GAMBIER V SOUTH GAMBIER


South Gambier started strongly in its clash with West Gambier at Malseed Park in the third round of the Limestone Coast Football Netball League season and only a late flurry of goals from the home side saw the margin at six at quarter time.


The Demons refused to allow West to utilise its quick ball movement and with the return of Gracie Dalton to the shooting circle, the Demons looked more likely to score with both Dalton and Megan Reid connecting well and finishing accurately.


West’s Sarah Ritter and Lisa McGregor also had a strong conversion rate in the opening quarter, netting 20 from 24.


The second quarter was a totally different story as West kicked it up a notch.


The increase in intensity of their defensive efforts all over the court saw the Demons cough up possession time and time again and the speed of ball was back as Amy Cram and Chelsea Tremelling drove through the mid court, found Tara Bryant and Jess Holmes deep in attack and then Ritter did the rest, scoring a perfect 19 from 19 as the margin went from a competitive six to a half time deficit of 24.


The Demons only generated seven scoring shots for the quarter and with the drop off in defensive pressure, the Demons were well and truly on the back foot.


It was basically one way traffic in the third as well and were it not for a strong four quarter performance from Ellie Bouchier, who was able to create some turnover ball for her teammates in each quarter, the scoreline may have been worse.


Early in the final quarter, Ritter left the court with an ankle injury she had suffered earlier in the contest, with Tahlia Bradley taking the gaol shooter bib as the match faded a little in the final quarter with the result beyond doubt.


The final margin was 41 goals with Cram dominating defensively, Bryant running hard through the mid court and Ritter dominating the shooting stats, while Megan Reid was incredibly consistent in goal attack and also had an impact in the final quarter when moved to centre, while Bouchier was critical defensively and in transition and Sophie Wight secured some important touches.


MILLICENT V EAST GAMBIER


East Gambier got off to a flyer against Millicent at the weekend on the back of some tough defence from Bo Creek and Sharna McKinnon and impressive finishing from Malinda Foster and Renee Henke with 15 from 15 from the Bulldogs shooting duo.


It saw East set up a six goal quarter time lead and forced a change in the Saints shooting circle, with Kalani Dunn making her A Grade debut and starting off with an impressive nine from 10 in her first quarter in the top grade.


Millicent’s defensive effort also improved and East was only able to create seven scoring opportunities for the quarter.


Fortunately they again converted without a miss and maintained a two goal buffer at the main break.


It was in the third the Saints made their move as their new look frontline started to connect.


The hard running of Lisa Duldig in centre was critical as she continually found Nikeisha Facey and Dunn in space, while Lauren VanEeden and Portia McRae built on their improved second quarter performance by again making it tough for the East shooters to find space in range.


Ambah Beveridge entered the clash for East in the shooting circle in the second half and again the Bulldogs shooters were accurate – it was a lack of supply that was the main issue.


Having built a four goal three quarter time lead, the Saints were able to go on with it and with Dunn and Facey converting accurately and McRae and VanEeden snapping up some strong rebounding opportunities, Millicent was able to secure a seven goal win, 47-40.


CASTERTON SANDFORD V NORTH GAMBIER


At three quarter time of the clash between Casterton Sandford and North Gambier, the upset of the season looked well and truly on the cards.


Having competed strongly with the Tigers for three quarters, the Cats had set up a four goal lead by the final change but the move of Stella Mobbs from defence into goal shooter totally changed the complexion of the contest.


Mobbs’ height became a huge factor and the teenage utility netted 16 from 19 in a match winning performance that saw North power to a nine goal victory.


It was all about the Cats, though, in the first three quarters as goalers Chelsea Hulm and Holly Smith started to really find their mojo as a combination with Hulm doing a mountain of work out front and taking plenty of shots.


The hard running of Indi Longhurst and Madalene Cleary kept finding a way through the Tigers defence, while at the other end, Caeleigh Humphries anchored the defensive line and was also a key in transition.


North barely resembled the team that totally dominated South Gambier on Anzac Day.


The Cats did not allow them to play with speed in offence and the defensive pressure was not as relentless from the Tigers and Casterton Sandford only succumbed in a frenetic final quarter.


Coach Jodie Humphries would be thrilled to have so much to build on from the first three quarters, while North coach Kaitlin Egan would have some work to do on the training court this week.


North replaced Macey Griffith at three quarter time as the youngster battles a calf strain but other than that both teams emerged unscathed from the entertaining contest.