Tight contests were the order of the day in Mid South East Netball Association round 15 action.
In the upset of the week, Glencoe travelled to Kalangadoo and inflicted the reigning premiers’ second loss of the season, downing the Pies by 11.
Mount Burr and Hatherleigh fought out a draw, while Port Mac secured a five goal win over Robe and Tantanoola ran over the top of Nangwarry.
Kalangadoo v Glencoe
It was a tightly contested game when top of the ladder Kalangadoo hosted second placed Glencoe.
The game was played with high intensity for all four quarters with much of the first quarter going goal for goal until Glencoe took the first opportunity with their defensive pressure to end the first break up 16-15.
Kalangadoo’s goalie combo of Abbey Duncan and Ebony McDiarmid finished accurately but were made to work hard to find the space in the circle with Jane Auld and Jayde Peacock feeding from the circle’s edge.
Chantelle Cocks and Jenna Paproth combined well in the Murphies’ circle, making Pies defenders Lara Munro and Georgia Duncan work overtime to build pressure in the ring, however the accuracy of Cocks and Paproth was hard to fault.
Glencoe’s Ashlee Pfitzner and Donna Jaeschke fed nicely in offence and continued to provide their team with speed and plenty of drive onto the circle’s edge, however not without tight defence from Georgia Gentile and Auld who worked diligently to slow and delay.
Glencoe consistently applied pressure and increased the lead to 27-32 at half time.
The Murphies’ attack line demonstrated patience to find goalies, as the switch of Kalangadoo’s defensive circle in the second half look to disrupt the flow of Glencoe’s game, with Gentile moving into the defensive circle and Duncan curbing the impact of Pfitzner’s game ever so slightly.
At the opposite end Duncan and Sarah Edwards, McDiarmid and Caitlin Hentsche had a tight tussle in the circle, with Jaeschke and Alice Tentye putting Kalangadoo’s attack line under pressure, making them accountable for any mistakes.
Despite Kalangadoo making a little surge in the last quarter, Glencoe never waivered, taking the win 51-62.
Mount Burr v Hatherleigh
In perfect conditions at Mount Burr, Hatherleigh secured the Mozzies’ first centre pass with strong defensive pressure to score, but Mount Burr were able to work hard to reverse Hatherleigh’s centre to even it up.
Both teams settled into the quarter, going goal for goal, with Mount Burr’s Megan Thiele taking some great intercepts in their defensive end to give her goalies Madi Haggett and Danika Sheperd chances to extend a lead for the Burr.
The home side was up 11-9 at the first break.
In the second quarter both teams’ defensive players continued to work hard with Mount Burr’s defenders Theile and Olivia Dean making plenty of intercepts, while down the other end Hatherleigh’s defence of Demi Vanderhorst and Lara McGregor were doing the same.
Hatherleigh stepped up their pressure all over the court to take a three goal lead early in the quarter with Eagles goalie Bree Harris converting well for her side.
Hatherleigh kept the pressure up to extend their lead to five at half time.
The third quarter continued to see both teams creating many intercepts and scoring off each other’s centre passes.
Hatherleigh’s Chelseas Owen came off with injury, with Lucy Corman taking the court at WA.
Mount Burr steadied quicker than Hatherleigh early in the quarter, with the Mozzies’ Ella Easterby using precision passing into the circle for her goalies Haggett and Shepherd making the most of those opportunities, to bring the gap back to one.
Mount Burr’s defence in Theile and Dean combined well together, putting lots of pressure on Hatherleigh’s goalies, making it hard for them score.
The Mozzies ended the quarter with a one goal lead.
The fourth quarter had Hatherleigh make some changes with goalie Harris coming off and Imogen Nowak coming on at GS.
The match went goal for goal before early in the quarter the Eagles made a change, bringing Harris back on as GS with Nowak coming off.
Hatherleigh’s goalie Harris made an impact immediately, with the Eagles’ other goalie Elly Redden lifting for her side.
The quarter was a see-sawing affair with Mount Burr’s Haggett and Hatherleigh’s Harris scoring with accuracy with every opportunity.
All players for both teams stepped up the pressure across the court and refused to allow any mistakes, with the game finishing in a draw, 32-all.
Nangwarry v Tantanoola
The last time these two clubs met, Nangwarry did not quite seem prepared for the speed and skill of this Tigers team.
Sitting in the top four of the ladder, the Tigers have proven their strength in the Mid SE A Grade this season.
But in this round, the young Saints side were determined to come out stronger and prove they had improved as individuals and as a team.
The first centre pass may have gone the Tigers’ way, but after both teams did all they could, forcing the ball down both ends of the court, Tant was able to come away with the first goal.
The fast moving and strong combination of Emma Gould and captain Jami Walker in goals for the Tigers made the Saints’ defence work overtime.
Captain Kayla Gray and Jemma Glynn both worked tirelessly to get their hands to any rebounds or intercepts possible.
But with the help from some beautiful passing and movement from Casey Walker in at centre the Saints were unable to stop the Tigers from scoring 17 in the first term.
Down the other end of the court Nangwarry’s WA Alice Circelli and centre Maddi Stephens pushed themselves to try and help keep the ball down their end.
Both players’ passes and movement around the circle were impressive, but the Tigers defenders Bella Poulish and Kate Bromley were able to read the ball beautifully and keep the Saints to only four for the first quarter.
At the first break, Nangwarry were the only ones to make any changes, bringing on Lacey Neale into GS.
The Saints started out strong in the second quarter.
Neale and youngster Ebony Wurst were able to find their range in the goal ring, scoring seven for the term.
Jami Walker for the Tigers used her voice to keep up Tant’s motivation, as did Circelli for the Saints.
Taysha Marshall in at WD for the Nangwarry side also kept the encouragement and talk going on the court, helping her team bring any turnovers down the court.
Kayla Gray again tried her best to slow down the Tigers, getting her hands to any loose balls.
The fast pace of Tantanoola got the best of Nangwarry, but the Saints were able to force more turnovers and keep the Tigers to only 14 for the term.
Both teams made changes at the main break, Tant swapping their defenders, Bromley and Poulish.
Nangwarry moving the height of Gray into GS and Neale back into GK.
The changes for both teams brought out new challenges, but both were able to adapt quickly.
Poulish was able to use more of the court to read the play and take intercepts while Marshall worked beautifully in backing up her teammates and bringing the ball down the court.
All of the Nangwarry pushed hard in the third term, showing determination and their fight for the full 15 minutes, but the Tant side were able to find their range in the goal circle, scoring an impressive 22.
The Saints were able to score another seven for this quarter, but that score definitely did not reflect the teamwork or determination of the young side.
The final term brought on more changes for the Saints with Sheridan Sakkers coming on into WD, showing that she is not just a shooter and giving it her best shot in defence.
Alice Circelli also showed her versatility and moved from WA into GA.
Wurst was moved into C showing her skill and speed through the midcourt, but Circelli and Wurst used a tactical change throughout the quarter to move back to their positions.
The Tigers also called a tactical in the final term, moving Shelby Ryan into WA and bringing on Molly Cushion.
Ryan had been consistent throughout the game at WD and never slowed down after that move.
A couple of injuries to the Saints side brought young gun Scarlett Black onto the court at GD and Michelle Richardson into GK.
As much as the Nangwarry side pushed themselves and never stopped encouraging their teammates, the Tigers were able to outscore them 22-4 in the final term.
Nangwarry walked away with their heads held high as the 22 they scored for the game was their highest score yet and were able to keep the Tigers to 75, improving on the score from the last time these teams met.
The Saints best players were Alice Circelli and Ebony Wurst, while for Tantanoola it was Bella Poulish and Shelby Ryan.
Port MacDonnell v Robe
It was the battle of the seasiders at the weekend with Robe taking on Port Mac at home.
The game started out a tight contest and Robe goalies Demi Carter and Sarah Laurie were on early, while the Bay’s Kori Collins and Megan Hein took longer to find their range.
Both defensive units worked overtime as Emily Thompson got early touches for the Bay at GK, while Alannah Jennings for the Roosters had an impact in defence.
Robe took a slight lead into the quarter-time break 12-10.
In the second term Collins and Hein found the goals more readily after some clever passing from Alysha Coon and Cody Manning.
Down the other end of the court Sarah Laurie was having an exceptional game, moving well and being well fed by the experience of Annie Regnier.
Alana Berkefeld was also working hard at GD for the Bay, driving nicely down court and getting plenty of the ball.
Port Mac won the quarter and the lead switched with the Demons up by two at the main break, 24-22.
The third quarter was again an even affair in what was proving to be a great game for supporters and spectators.
Robe switched Carter and Laurie while the Demons made no changes.
Both teams’ defensive units were working well with Berkefeld and Thompson getting numerous touches for the Bay and Alannah Jennings and Emillie Gould combining beautifully to create more opportunities for their team.
The midcourt tussles were also exciting to watch as Coon and Regnier had an awesome battle through the centre, while Kate Faint for the Demons and Lucy Perkins for the Roosters were having a great tussle on the wing.
Port Mac took a three goal lead into the final break, 35-32.
The final quarter saw Robe go up a gear to ensure their finals chances remained alive as they worked hard to try to cement a spot in the top four.
Carter and Laurie were hard to stop, Carter shooting with 100% accuracy for the term.
Port Mac struggled to convert in the last, with Jennings and Gould positioning themselves well for missed shots.
Robe shone in the last quarter and showed what they are capable of, setting up a 47-42 win.
Best players for Robe were Demi Carter and Alannah Jennings, for the Bay it was Kate Faint and Cody Manning.
