Team Rowley forge ahead in netball league

Team Rowley lead Division 1 of the netball leagues after a strong win against AHS while Loungers overcame Kinetics. In the second flight Supernova were two points better than Da Hooligans and Hotfooters won by the same narrow margin against Wastside. Ness beat Scallywags in Division 3.

Division 1
Loungers 37, Kinetics 30

Loungers won the first centre pass and were quick to score the first three goals. However, Kinetics soon found their form and started pulling back the goals. The end-to-end play in the first quarter was an insight as to how close and competitive this match was going to be. Accurate shooting from Loungers Stella Oldbury (GA) and Claire Young (GS), and Kinetics shooters Kirsti Leask (GA) and Chloe Miller (GS), meant the first quarter ended 9-8 to Loungers.

The second quarter started at a fast pace with both teams trying to capitalise on the others’ mistakes. Loungers welcomed back student Ava Sim at GA, who was quick to settle into the game, however the Kinetics defence of Andrea Tait (GD) and Vaila Hough (GK) were making great interceptions and closely marking their opponents, forcing the Loungers attack to play the ball around the circle. Nearing the end of the quarter Kinetics pulled ahead to end it 13-14 at half-time.

Going into the second half Beth Leslie of Loungers came on to replace Diane Thomson at WD and Cheryl Simpson (GK) replaced Vaila Hough for Kinetics. Both teams continued to fight for every stray ball, and were matching each other goal for goal. Kinetics’ Rowan Nicolson (WA) had a great game offering support and feeding the ball well into the attacking circle, but the tight Loungers defence of Louise Moar (GD) and Jennifer Thomson (GK) were forcing the Kinetics shooters to take long range shots. With nothing to separate the two teams the score was 24-all at the end of the third quarter.

It was all to play for going into the final quarter. Loungers began to show their fighting spirit and pulled together as a unit with Vicki Henderson (C) and Hazel Uren (WA) working tirelessly around the circle, offering great support and feeding accurate balls in to their shooters, which were converted into goals. Both teams fought hard to keep possession but it was Loungers who began to edge ahead, controlling the pace of the game. After a very close match the game ended 37-30 to Loungers.

Players of the match were Rowan Nicolson and Chloe Miller for Kinetics and Ava Sim for Loungers.

Challengers 26, Unst 19

No match report received.

Team Rowley 53, AHS 18

Both teams started off at a fast pace trying to make any interception to get the lead. AHS GA Louise Jamieson and GS Liza Fullerton worked well in the circle and with accurate shooting scored goals for their team. At the other end of the court, Team Rowley’s WA Dawn Manson was supporting her team mates well with great movement and positioning around the circle, and making strong passes in to shooters Marie Clark and Lisa Morrison who quickly converted them into goals. The quarter ended 14-5.

In the second quarter, AHS player Megan Keppie moved to WD where she proved to be effective by putting the pressure on Team Rowley. Maisie Unsworth (GD) for Team Rowley was breaking up the AHS play with great interceptions, which she then helped take up the court. At half-time the score was 28-8 in favour of Team Rowley.

AHS came back onto the court with fighting spirit and made Team Rowley push themselves to keep possession. Claire Morris (C) showed this by never tiring and offering for every ball. Team Rowley stepped up their game with great attack from Alison Moar who had come on at WA. After a scrappy quarter the score was 39-12.

The last quarter was more relaxed with both teams playing a bit slower although this did not stop TR from increasing their lead. Both teams worked tirelessly to the final whistle where the score ended 53-18 to Team Rowley.

Players of the match were Maisie Unsworth for Team Rowley and Claire Morris for AHS.

Division 2
Da Hooligans 35, Supernova 37

The match began evenly with both teams seeming to settle quickly into their playing styles. The ball travelled swiftly from one shooting circle to the other. Supernova took the lead at the end of the first quarter 9-7.

The second quarter started well with Supernova having first centre. During this quarter shooters Rhea Kay (GS) and Valerie Sales (GA) upped their game and managed to catch up with Supernova’s score, however accurate shooting by Supernova GA Liz Haining meant they pulled ahead ending the second quarter at 20-17.

In the third quarter Da Hooligans defenders Lara Kay (GK) and Nicola Polson (GD) worked tirelessly, however accurate passing and experience from Supernova kept them in lead.

Supernova WA Kirsten Robertson and Hooligans WD Abbey Irvine fought for every ball and played really well. Supernova defenders Laura Mathewson (GD) and Jenny Wylie (GK) made it hard for Da Hooligans shooters in the last quarter and Supernova managed to pull ahead to 30-25.

In the last quarter Da Hooligans WA Holly Jamieson and centre Karis Irvine made some good interceptions and got back three goals, but the Supernova shooters Haining and Connie Smith (GS) kept their lead, 37-35.

Both teams played really well and fought really hard for every ball especially Da Hooligans’ Karis Irvine and Supernova’s Kirsten Robertson, who were players of the match.

Wastside 30, Hotfooters 32

This match didn’t look as if it was going to start very well for Wastside, as only five players were on the court when the game began. Hotfooters had first centre, but an early interception by Pauline Walterson (GD) saw Wastside score the first goal. Play seemed a bit scrappy, but Wastside, determined not to fall behind so early, managed to score a couple more before Hotfooters started to take charge.

Thankfully, although a few minutes late the rest of Wastside team arrived and everyone settled into the match. This quarter ended evenly at 7-7.

The second quarter saw some changes, and Wastside had players back into their familiar positions. This was an unsettled quarter with many mistakes with high, uncontrolled passes. Hotfooters took advantage of this and converted them into goals. Wastside began to settle and managed to pull ahead, 16-17.

The third quarter saw Hotfooters start determinedly and with some lovely linked passes to the shooters Megan and Zoey, who were popping them in, and some super interceptions by the mid court players, Hotfooters went into the fourth quarter with a 27-22 lead.

Wastside were determined to pull this back. Lindsay Morrison (C) for Wastside played really well in this quarter. Wastside put in super effort but was it was too late in the game, the final whistle blew and the score ended 32-30. Players of the match were Jenny Anderson (C) for Hotfooters and Mhari Moncrieff (GA) for Wastside.

Division 3
Ness 23, Scallywags 14

The first quarter of the game began fast for both teams and Ness pulled ahead scoring the first four points. With equal play on either side it was up to the defenders to intercept at all possible points in the game. Ailish Parham (GD) for Ness did well defending in the semi-circle while it was Scallywags’ mid court players who intercepted where possible. As the first quarter came to an end Ness were ahead 6-2.

Both teams made changes as they stepped back on the court and as the whistle blew both teams were in fighting spirit. Unfortunately for Scallywags while their GS, Cyndi Pottinger, did well to score from all points of the semi-circle, any rebounds were caught by the Ness defenders Ruth Christie (GK) and Ailish Parham (GD). Scallywags kept up the attack and began to close in on Ness, however Ness centre Ashley Young made a number of quick interceptions taking the game to the Ness goal shooters. Scallywags were determined not to slow down and took advantage of any poor pass by a Ness player allowing them to catch up with Ness, leaving the score 11-7 to Ness at the end of the second quarter.

Again changes were made by both teams and play stayed equally as strong. There was good passing to the Ness circle however scoring was not made easy as the Scallywag defenders Naomi Johnson (GD) and Rachel Williamson (GK) were quick to grab any rebound and send it back down the court. The strength of play remained relatively equal with Ness still in the lead by just four points.

The fourth and final quarter began and Ness picked up their game. Scallywags were first to score, however the Ness team had come into their own. Linking well as a team, the Ness players swiftly moved the ball up the court rounding it off with great shooting by the Elizabeth Williamson (GS) and Caroline Wood (GA). Despite the Scallywags’ players good movement through the court, it proved to not be enough as the final whistle blew and Ness had won 23-14.

It was a game which saw both teams linking well with strong attacking in mid court play and equally as strong defending in the semi-circles. This made it hard to point out individually strong players from either teams however, deservedly so, players for the match were Ailish Parham (GD) for Ness and Gwen Malcolmson (C) for Scallywags.