Southside Demons excelled themselves in a tight game against Wester Roar last Friday night in Round 9 of the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League Opens.
As their second win in a row after their Round 8 victory against Peel Lightning, Southside Demons are contesting for their position in the top-four on the ladder.
Southside Demons made a strong come-back from half-time to secure their 49-47 win, despite being five goals behind Roar at the end of the second quarter.
The match kicked off with Roar flying into action defensively to get the ball back down court to their shooters GA Maddison Schultz and GS Sophia Lamers.
Opens Demons coach Josie Janz-Dawson was delighted with the consecutive win, particularly in their determination to defend against some of Roar’s best.
“Our focus was on shutting down Maddison Schultz, she is a key player, she can dominate the game so a lot of our focus was really on how we can combat her as a unit.”
Demons worked hard to read the play and intercept the ball, passing into a strong “middle-three”, with Centre Teagan Phillips making leads and Chanel Gomes in GD and Brittany Turnbull in WA to move the ball through the centre third.
While Demons worked hard in the centre third, Roar seemed to use most of their skill closer around the goal circle. Roar kept the speed up to finish the first quarter with a three-point lead.
Demons came into the second quarter with strong defence from Demons’ Chanel Gomes in GD determined to turn the ball over and regain possession. Staying ball-side was Roar’s GS Emma Putt, protecting and increasing their team’s lead now by five goals.
Five goals behind to commence the third quarter, Demons were ready to fight back with Montana Turnbull in WA, being instrumental to the movement of the ball and to turn the heat up against the Roar defenders.
Although it was Maddison Schultz again in GA from Roar who was not going to back down quickly, Demons executed an exquisite three-person block with their GK, GD and WD all at once. This teamwork in defence saw the Demons finish the third quarter with a lead.
“We made changes to some players for a bit of impact which I think helped bring the momentum back into the team and the belief,” Janz-Dawson said.
“It was high pressured regardless, even if we steamed ahead, Roar could have come back any moment in the league we are playing in at the moment.”
Ready to continue their success from the third quarter, Demons started the final quarter strong with the first goal in. Desperate to close the margin and regain their lead, Roar kicked into gear with Maddison Schultz in WA helping Emma Putt in GA to quickly even the score again. However, this pressure only pushed the Demons to keep up what they’d been working on for the whole game and finish up with a two-goal win 49-47.
ROUND 9 SCOREBOARD
Opens
Southside Demons defeated Western Roar Netball Club 49-47
Rangers Netball Club defeated East Freo Sharks Netball Inc 49-38
West Coast Warriors Netball Club defeated Peel Lightning 49-44
ECU Souwest Jets defeated Curtin Hamersley Comets 55-45
Men’s
Western Roar Netball Club defeated Curtin Hamersley Comets 41-39
West Coast Warriors Netball Club defeated Southside Demons 69-38
U/20
Southside Demons defeated Western Roar Netball Club 55-44
Rangers Netball Club defeated East Freo Sharks Netball Inc 58-53
Peel Lightning defeated West Coast Warriors Netball Club 48-39
Curtin Hamersley Comets defeated ECY Souwest Jets 50-42
