Kalangadoo suffered its first loss of the Mid South East Netball Association season on Saturday, narrowly going down to Tantanoola.
The Pies lost by six to the Tigers, while Port MacDonnell had a tight tussle with Hatherleigh, taking the win by seven goals.
The scores were one sided in the matches between Kongorong and Glencoe, and Nangwarry and Robe, with the Hawks and Saints going down by large margins.
Kalangadoo v Tantanoola
In an intense netball clash between Tantanoola and Kalangadoo, the Tigers maintained a firm grip on the lead throughout the game, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory by six goals.
Emma Gould and Jaime Walker in the goal circle showcased Tantanoola’s offensive ability.
Kalangadoo’s defensive circle of Lara Munro and Georgia Gentile stepped up in the second half, putting up some resistance and making the Tigers’ attack line work for every possession.
Shanae Neale switched momentum when she moved into GK and gave Kalangadoo vital turnovers, maintaining the back and fourth tussle.
Kate Varcoe and Casey Walker’s patient play in the mid-court provided crucial support and ensured effective feeding of the ball.
Abbey Duncan’s relentless efforts up the court helped the Pies’ transition, while Eb McDiarmid remained a constant target for Kalangadoo.
In a notable tactical move, Lauren Kain showcased versatility in the WA position, contributing to Kalangadoo’s strategic depth.
The Tantanoola defensive pressure created vital turnovers with their goalies being able to capitalise.
Despite Kalangadoo’s spirited fightback in the last quarter, Tantanoola’s consistent performance rewarded them with a solid win 57-51.
Nangwarry v Robe
A young Nangwarry side hosted the more experienced Robe team, with the home side winning the toss and taking the opening centre pass.
The strong defence and great hands from the Roosters quickly turned that over and the first score came GA Sarah Laurie.
Through the first quarter, Nangwarry took some time to settle in their positions and found it hard to get the ball into their goal circle, due to the defensive pressure all the way down the court from the Roosters.
Robe centre Annie Hunter and wing attack Lucy Perkins used their speed onto the circle to help the Roosters score quickly through the 15 minutes.
Saints keeper Kayla Gray played with great intensity and pressure but was unable to shut down the goalies from scoring 19 goals for the quarter, with Sarah Laurie scoring 12 of those.
Nangwarry was unable to score in the first term.
At the first break, Nangwarry were the only ones to make changes, bringing on Taysha Marshall into WD, making changes in the centre court and moving Lacey Neale’s height back into GK.
The changes and fresh legs helped Nangwarry to score their first goal for the game and the first goal for the second term.
Nangwarry’s Maddi Stephens at centre was able to slow her team down and steady the play, with Alice Circelli at wing attack using her voice to help motivate the Saints.
Roosters defenders Alex Neale and Sophie Bates showed their strength with intercepts and amazing pressure over the ball.
Down the other end of the court the combination of Sarah Laurie and captain Demi Carter in goals was hard to beat, with their movement in the circle, passing and Demi Carter’s shooting accuracy flawless, enabling the Roosters to add another 17 to their score.
Nangwarry’s young team were able to find their range in this quarter, with shooters Sheridan Sakkers and Ebony Wurst scoring a team high of nine in the quarter.
Nangwarry retained their positions in the third quarter, with Robe moving Annie Hunter to WD and Sophie Bates into C, and the goalies changing their positions.
The changes certainly did not slow down the pace of the Roosters side with both Lucy Perkins and Sophie Bates working tirelessly to get the ball smoothly into their shooters, who again moved beautifully in their goal circle.
Young gun Ebony Wurst using her speed and movement in the circle for the Saints, giving them a little lift with her hard work and helped her teammate Sheridan Sakkers find her range further out from the post.
Nangwarry’s Alice Circelli and Maddi Stephens worked overtime in the centre court, and the pressure from Taysha Marshall at WD helped the team to settle.
After a collision in Robe’s goal circle, Lacey Neale decided to take a break, bringing back on young Jemma Glynn into defence.
The Roosters were able to score 15 for the quarter, Sarah Laurie scoring 11 of those, while the Saints scored five.
The final term showed the experience and fitness of the Rooster’s side, with Demi Carter scoring a game high of 12 for the quarter, with 100% accuracy.
This helped her team score an impressive 21 for the quarter.
The final score did not reflect the hard work by both Kayla Gray and Jemma Glynn in defence for the Saints.
The Saints’ centre court had been changed again at the break, but the speed and talent of Sophie Bates just made it too hard for the home side to keep possession of the ball.
Ebony Wurst found range from further out for the Saints and helped the her side score five for the last quarter.
Wurst’s hard work was enough to get herself in the best players for Nangwarry, as did the endless effort from Kayla Gray in defence.
Robe’s best players were Annie Hunter with her pressure and effort and Demi Carter for her accuracy and strength in the goal circle.
Robe took the win 72-19.
Port MacDonnell v Hatherleigh
Port MacDonnell hosted Hatherleigh for another sunny day by the seaside in a match that was predicted to be a close encounter, and it certainly did not disappoint.
The first quarter was a fairly even affair as all four goalies struggled to convert as they seemingly dealt with early game jitters.
The ball went back and forward as Demon defenders Alana Berkefeld and Emily Thompson rebounded missed shots by the Eagles.
Hatherleigh’s defenders Lara McGregor and Elly Redden were doing the same down the opposite end, standing tall and making the most of any missed shots from the Bay shooters Cody Manning and Kori Collins.
Hatherleigh was up by the slimmest margin at quarter time, leading 8-7.
The goalies settled in the second quarter as Bree Harris found her range for the Eagles and Cody Manning had a better shooting quarter.
Alysha Coon in centre for the Bay was having a great tussle with Eagle Erin Watson, while Megan Hein was effective in WD for the Demons, providing plenty of drive out of defence.
Lara McGregor was getting her hands to any loose balls and was prominent in defence for Hatherleigh, while Elly Redden also played some great netball at GK for the visitors, combining well with McGregor.
The Eagles edged ahead slightly on the scoreboard, leading 20-17 at half time.
Port Mac made changes coming into the third quarter with Megan Hein moved into GA, Cody Manning to WA and Kate Faint to WD.
Hatherleigh also put on some fresh legs, bringing Demi Vanderhorst into WA and Tegan Telfer came to the bench.
Both teams took time to adjust to the changes, but the changes seemed to work for the Bay, Hein giving some much needed height in the goal circle and Manning and Coon working well together with clever passing into the circle.
Kalli Nettle and Bree Harris were giving their all in the goal circle for the Eagles but Demons captain Alana Berkefeld went up a gear and had got some crucial touches for the Bay.
Port Mac won the quarter, but still trailed by one goal at three quarter time as Hatherleigh held the lead 28-27 at the final break.
Port Mac came out firing in the last quarter and Hatherleigh struggled to have the answers.
Erin Watson was putting in a mighty effort through the middle for the Eagles but Port Mac’s tight defence saw them slowly gaining the upper hand.
Megan Hein was having a terrific last quarter at GA, piling on some much needed goals for the Demons.
Hatherleigh called some tactical changes – Telfer coming back on to WA, youngster Nettle moving out to GA, Harris back to GS, Vanderhorst to GK and Redden to the bench.
However it was the Demons that had momentum, Hein finishing strong in goals and Port Mac’s defence holding up, making it difficult for the Eagles to score.
Port Mac ran away with the win with the final score 39-32.
Best for the Bay were Megan Hein and Alana Berkefeld, while it was Erin Watson and Elly Redden who took the honours for the Eagles.
Kongorong v Glencoe
Glencoe travelled to Kongorong to take on the young Hawks team and both teams went hard for the ball in the first quarter.
The Murphies settled early, moving the ball well, however there was some inaccurate shooting from both teams but Glencoe managed to come out in front with a six goal lead at the first break.
Glencoe stepped up its shooting in the second quarter, Chantelle Cocks scoring 12 for the stanza.
Some nice feeding to the circle from Alice Tentye and Ashlea Pfitzner enabled the Murphies to settle, while Kongorong instigated several tactical changes and Ebony Lawson provided drive down the centre, but the Hawks struggled to find their flow and Glencoe increased their lead to 17 by half time.
The Hawks went into the third quarter with work to do.
Defence lifted with Kongorong’s Emily Lightbody working tirelessly in the goal circle.
There were some lovely rebounds but unfortunately they were not rewarded, with turnovers down the court sending the ball straight back.
Glencoe had a strong quarter and a 26 goal lead by three quarter time.
The Murphies took control in the final quarter and finished the game off with a 43 goal victory.
Caitlin Hentscke made countless intercepts in the goal circle and held the Hawks goalless for the final quarter, which had her named best for Glencoe along with Alice Tentye.
Kongorong’s Emily Lightbody and Ebony Lawson were named best on court for the Hawks.
