By Hugh Maclean
INTERLEAGUE A-GRADE
Southern 46 v Ellinbank 51
The Southern side came into this match viewing it as a very winnable affair, and left it feeling as though it may have been one that got away. The key to Ellinbank’s win was the form of its shooters, who were deadly in their finishing of any sort of a decent chance. The biggest disappointment to the Southern coaches was the amount of ball that they were able to see.
The first quarter proved a riveting spectacle to the excellent crowd that had gathered to watch. Ellinbank looked the sharper early in the quarter but could not get a break against a hard working Southern unit that had their work well finished by brilliant goaler Sophie O’Shea, who looked incapable of missing. This is something that Sophie continued for the whole day and earned her deserved player of the match honours. Neither side was able to lead by more than one goal until Ellinbank gained a 13-11 break in the last minute of the quarter, which was reduced to 13-12 on the siren.
Jane Keating came into the defensive structure to start the second quarter, and she lifted the team with a brilliant interception which found its way to O’Shea via Billie Nukunuku to give Southern the lead. But it was again the case that when one side led, the other equalised. This kept occurring until the final minutes of the term, and it was here that the visitors were able to gain a foothold that it proved unwilling to let go. From 22-22 Ellinbank scored the next three goals, and although Southern threw the side around, putting Nukunuku into defence, Taylah Fiddes into the centre and Shae Wonnacott into attack to try and get their game going, Ellinbank had the answers to lead 29-24 at half-time.
Coach Mel Starr stressed the need to be patient with the ball, and brought Amber McHenry back into defence to attempt to counter the visiting shooters, but to no avail as Ellinbank quickly stretched their advantage to eight goals. It was in this quarter that Ellinbank really stepped up their work rate to counter the Southern attacks as they began to look for the dangerous pass to unlock the opposing defence. Alicia Wise made some fine passes, and a brilliant interception found its way to O’Shea via Wonnacott for 37-33, but late in the quarter Ellinbank’s shooters refused to miss, resulting in a 42-34 three-quarter time lead.
The Southern girls were implored to drive hard towards the ball and to treasure possession at the final break, but the Ellinbank advantaged was stretched to 13 as they scored at will early on. But with O’Shea starring and Sarah Fischer really stepping up alongside her, the next five goals fell to Southern. Makayla Bulte was introduced into the game for the last quarter, and as she did at Bundoora a week earlier she gave Southern great energy, and with McHenry, Wise and Fiddes playing strongly as the quarter went on Southern began to charge home. Sadly though it was too late, and the final siren sounded with Ellinbank five goals to the good, 51-46. Another five minutes could have seen a very different result, with Southern left to lament passes that didn’t find their mark and opportunities afforded the opposing shooters that proved unstoppable in the end.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
INTERLEAGUE B-GRADE
Southern 31 v Ellinbank 46
The B-grade match was won by Ellinbank, in a game in which they stamped their authority over a young Southern outfit early in the day and rarely took their foot off the pedal for the remainder of the match.
The Southern girls found themselves three goals down before they were able to get into the game, but Jessica Haslem then got the scoreboard rolling for the hosts. Ellinbank scored at the other end before fellow shooter Casey Kamphaug made her initial impact, and when Southern were able to level at 4-4 there was hope that the locals may be able to wrest control from their visitors. Ellinbank were looking the more composed side with the ball however, and despite some sterling work in defence by Emily Crawford, the final pass was going astray too often. The last three goals of the quarter went Southern’s way though to limit the damage to 12-10 by quarter time.
Yvonne McMillan and Sophie Virtue were injected into the game in the second term, and both began to work hard to gain some traction. Haslem goaled early but Ellinbank scored the next five goals to kick away. Southern began to hit back and reduced the deficit to three, but towards the end of the term the goals stopped going in and Ellinbank were able to regain the initiative to take a 25-17 lead into the main break.
This initiative became akin to a gathering snowball through the third quarter as the visitors helped themselves to the first five goals, with Southern unable to get their hands on the ball. When they were able to gain possession the need to chase the game led to passes being pushed and the ball being turned over. Casey Kamphaug was able to break the chain after a neat interception from Yvonne McMillan, and with Jess Haslem converting three goals late Southern felt that they may be able to make up the 12-goal deficit in the last quarter.
Haslem scored the first goal of the final term, but with the next five going to the Ellinbank side any hope was snuffed out. The Southern girls never at any stage gave Ellinbank an easy ride but were unable to put a run of goals together to bridge the gap, and finished the game 15 points in arrears. Captain Sara Merkus was named as Southern’s best, whilst Heatherton pair Kirsty Mann and Yvonne McMillan were tireless in defence.
The concept of the B game is certainly one which is worth pursuing. Ellinbank sent a very strong side over with the definite intention of stretching Southern and coming home with the points, an aim which they were able to comfortably achieve. I would strongly urge any player keen to test her game at the highest level to trial for the squad next season, for the Interleague experience is one that is well worth being part of.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Walsh[/caption]
INTERLEAGUE UNDER 19
Southern 51 v Ellinbank 36
The day’s Interleague netball got off to a great start as Southern’s youngsters proved a little too quick and agile for their Ellinbank counterparts, delivering a convincing 15-goal victory.
Ellinbank had the best of the early exchanges after each side converted their first centre pass, and behind by three goals early, Southern knew that they had a fight on their hands. This is where captain Mia McMillan began to take control in a polished display that culminated in her being adjudged player of the match. With Teaghan Avery expertly loading the bullets, and fellow shooter Madison McGaw also coming into her own late in the quarter, Southern were able to take a one-goal lead into the quarter time huddle.
Ellinbank soon equalised on the resumption, but slick ball movement from Southern soon saw their advantage restored, and this lead was not to be wrested from Southern’s hands for the remainder of the day. Jemima Price began to excel in the centre of the court, and the desperation shown by all in the Southern uniform was typified by a brilliant passage of play late in the quarter where Maggie Carlon made a stunning interception and pass which eventually led to Mia McMillan converting clinically for a 24-17 lead.
The third quarter was where the victory was really secured. Bella Riddell was swung into the goal circle to relieve the excellent McGaw, and she immediately stamped her mark on the match, hitting the scoreboard in the first minute and continuing to do so throughout the second half. Southern found it hard to miss a shot in the third term, in marked contrast to Ellinbank who struggled to make their play count on the scoresheet. Just before three-quarter time Riddell was able to make a brilliant interception in the middle third, with the ball going through the hands of the tireless Price and McMillan, before making its way back to the hard-working Riddell to make the shot. A 40-27 last-change lead meant that Southern would need to stop dead in its tracks to lose this one.
And this Southern did not do. Captain McMillan began the last quarter rather as she began the first, and her deadly finishing meant that, despite some late flurries by the valiant Ellinbank unit, there would be no impression made on the scoreboard. With the ever-reliable Ann Cooper hardly missing any defensive rebounds at the other end of the court and Madison McGaw not missing a beat when swung into the middle late on, Southern had the all-court game to end the game comfortably in front. Coach Nicki Arnold had the luxury of being able to give the excellent McMillan, Price and Cooper an early mark before victory was secured.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Photogenix[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Photogenix[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Photogenix[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Photogenix[/caption]
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PHOTO CREDIT: Photogenix[/caption]
