SOUTH GAMBIER V NORTH GAMBIER

South Gambier was well in the hunt for the first half against an undermanned North Gambier but in the end, the young Demons faded in the second half to suffer a 22 goal loss.

North was missing key defender Mikaila Pitt due to illness and sharpshooter Gracie Potts but Ava Collins stepped into the defensive role and Stella Mobbs took the shooter bib and both applied themselves well and were key parts of the victory.

South was missing wing defender Tully McShane with experienced campaigner Belinda Scanlon returning to the court to take on the tough challenge of limiting the influence of Brianna Walters.

In the absence of Potts, young goal attack Macey Griffith knew she would have to step up and she upped her output with 25 of North’s final tally of 60.

Given Mobbs and Griffith had already combined for a half in the same roles during the 17 & under clash, the duo started strongly, netting 17 from 21 in an impressive opening quarter and by the first break North held a five goal lead.

It was eight at the main break after a hard fought second quarter with respective goal defenders Ellie Bouchier and Noni McConnell creating turnover ball and also proving critical as link players through the mid court.

Another strong quarter from the young shooting duo in the third saw the lead at 13 and it was a long way back for the Demons who faded in the last, just as they did the previous round against East Gambier, with limited scoring opportunities that saw the final margin blow out to 22.

It was a fitting victory for the Tigers in star centre Mel Renko’s 150th game for North Gambier, while her opponent Megan Reid more than held her own against the tough competitor and was South’s best, alongside hard working captain Alyssa Duncan.

Griffith and McConnell were best for North.

EAST GAMBIER V MILLICENT

East Gambier welcomed back star centre Emily Hunter for her first game as a Bulldog in 2023 and while the reigning Western Border Netball Association A Grade best and fairest was certainly influential, she could not bring victory to her team mates with Millicent returning home with the premiership points.

Missing Kimmi Tincknell and Lauren van Eeden, Millicent injected Nikeisha Facey into the defensive circle alongside Portia McRae and the duo developed across the course of the match as they looked to limit East’s scoring opportunities.

It was a game of accuracy in the end, with Millicent’s Tabatha Sanderson and Demi Verbena combining for a 52 from 59 shooting performance, including a perfect 15 from 15 in the second quarter.

East, on the other hand, had a shakier start before switching on in the second half for a much improved conversion rate.

As the most experienced of the Saints circle defensive duo McRae shone, working hard over the shot, rebounding strongly and also venturing out of the circle for some of her trademark interceptions, while Sanderson was a rock solid target at the post for the Saints, benefitting from some great feeding from Verbena, Daisy Tunkin and Lillie Paul.

East goal attack Casey Horrigan’s influence grew across the match and her second half shooting accuracy of 11 from 15 ensured the score never blew out and the Bulldogs were always in touching distance before going down by nine goals.

Hunter was at her dynamic best through the mid court and her 2021 premiership combination with Tarsh McCallum looked as promising as ever but in the end, Millicent set up a 14 goal three quarter time advantage and despite losing the last quarter, remained in control.

WEST GAMBIER V CASTERTON SANDFORD

They might have lost the game but for Casterton Sandford, the clash with the reigning premiers West Gambier was a case of mission accomplished as they significantly increased their own scoring against the Roos in the eventual 80-40 loss.

The Cats had been blown out of the water by West in the previous two encounters in the opening stanzas but this time they went toe to toe with the champs in an 18-14 quarter that was arguably their best of the season.

To be only trailing by four with Ivy Lane and Madalene Cleary combining well and shooting accurately, the four goal deficit was heartening but the impressive start did seem to kick the Roos into overdrive.

The 24-9 second quarter saw West assert its authority as the defensive end stepped up the pressure and only conceded 10 scoring shots, while offensively, the new look frontline, with Zoe Malseed in centre in the absence of Tara Bryant, started to find its rhythm as West piled on 24 goals.

The match was also the A Grade debut of Ellie Xanthopolous at wing defence with Aleisha Pearson also making her first appearance on the A Grade court in the second half at wing attack.

As the match wore on, West continued to build its lead and the final quarter saw an impressive shooting performance from the always dominant Sarah Ritter, who netted 16 from 17, with Lisa McGregor, not only providing most of the goal assists but also not missing a goal in that final term.

For the Cats, defender Caeleigh Humphries was again a tireless worker who proved disruptive where possible as well as driving hard through the mid court to help with transition, while Chloe Foster looks to be making the wing attack bib her own with a strong couple of rounds in the relatively new role for the talented goaler.

For West it was the Ritter sisters leading the way – Sarah and Jade – with the reigning titleholders certainly looking ominous with the finals fast approaching.