In an epic Friday-night clash, Southside Demons defeated Souwest Jets in Round 13 of the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League Opens match. Despite Jets winning each of the first three quarters, Demons were able to secure a one-point victory 42-41.
Demons started off very strong, with Teagan Phillips in Centre making a fantastic intercept, stopping the ball and gaining possession. From there, Demons flew into action and already had two goals on the scoreboard within minutes of the beginning of the match. However, with the well-polished passing and gameplay in the centre court, Jets were able to create real opportunities for their GA Brooke Gibson to make her mark on the scoreboard.
Defensively, Ruth Aryang playing GK for Jets, was fantastic with her rebounds, quick to read her opponent’s play and get the ball back to Jets, allowing them to finish the first quarter with a four-point lead.
After having turned the tables in the first quarter, Jets continued to run hard, make efficient use of the court space and creating leads. However, with Demon’s Rebecca Lill now in GS, the pressure was on. Despite being six points down for some time during this quarter, Lill had an eye for the shot and did not miss one goal, successfully halving this margin to only three for the end of the second quarter.
Within centre court, it was again WA Phillips and Centre Montana Turnbull for Demons who dominated with keeping the ball on their side. However, Jet’s defence in the goal third was too strong, and once the ball was back in the hands of GA Gibson, her long-range shooting accuracy proved unstoppable, keeping Jet’s lead at three.
Southside Demons Opens Coach Josie Janz-Dawson said, “We had some defensive set-ups. We played some strategy for particular players in Jets that were going to come on but when they made changes, it went out the window. There’s no flow in defence, no flow in attack, because everybody changes within twoto three minutes. Some of our preparation went out the door, just to play normal netball.”
“We had to just throw out so many different combinations to try and make it work tonight, which we don’t usually do. Jets, that was a tough game, but we really wanted to win.”
With the end of the game in sight and the score still very close, desperation from both sides resulted in a few throws that were a bit long and shots a bit wide, however Demons were able to re-focus their play well and execute excellent precision in their passes and then shooting. Demon’s Meg Gallager in GS reignited hope for her team, evening the score and then landing a final goal to claim the win in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, 42-41.
Janz-Dawson said, “The last couple of games we’ve been chasing our tails to get back into it and so they probably like being the underdogs a little bit.”
“We are fighting for the end of our season and sitting in sixth and want to push for top four.”
ROUND 13 SCOREBOARD
Open
East Freo Sharks defeated Peel Lightning 56-45
Western Roar defeated Curtin Hamersley Comets 50-41
Southside Demons defeated ECU Souwest Jets 42-41
Men
Western Roar defeated Southside Demons 62-34
Curtin Hamersley Comets defeated West Coast Warriors 54-34
20U
Western Roar defeated Curtin Hamersley Comets 56-39
Southside Demons defeated ECU Souwest Jets 63-60
East Freo Sharks defeated Peel Lightning 55-48
Rangers defeated West Coast Warriors 67-57
