Sarah East’s 44 goals led Curtin Hamersley Comets to a 67-54 win over Peel Lightning in Round 6 of the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League.
Intensity and speed were the game plan for both teams, but it was Curtin who got the upper hand early as goal shooter East made the most of her opportunities to create an early five-goal lead.
Lightning centre Bridgette Maxtred kickstarted Peel midway through the quarter, but a flurry of goals late for the Comets meant they took a 17-9 lead into the quarter time break.
Neither side showed signs of fatigue in the second quarter after a two-day turnaround from Round 5, as both teams lifting their intensity further in the term.
Maxtred continued her stranglehold on the game as Peel’s goal attack Ellie Smart and goal shooter Katie Swetman shot at 90% for the quarter as their tag-team proved difficult for the Comets to keep in check.
Despite this, a series of mistakes from Peel late in the quarter again allowed the Comets to score quickly to push their lead back out to six goals with a 33-27 half-time scoreline.
With the game on the line in the third term, it was the Comets who stood tall, as a number of intercepts by Comets goal defence Ella Taylor meant the Comets scored six of the first seven goals of the quarter.
Lightning made a number of mistakes and missed crucial shots, however at the other end of the court Comets were converting to take an unassailable 52-39 lead into the final quarter.
The game was lost under the net as Lightning converted only 54/72 while Curtin converted 67/81 to make the most of their opportunities.
East proved to be the difference in the end between the two sides, scoring 44/51 as she made the most of a tiring Lightning defence in the final quarter to lead her side to a percentage-boosting win.
Both teams now have a well-deserved break ahead of their Round 7 clashes next weekend.
The Curtin Comets face a tough test against the East Fremantle Sharks on Friday at 8.30pm at the Gold Netball Centre, while Peel Lightning will meet the Rangers at 2.30pm on Sunday.
