Rangers Netball Club and Southside Demons went head to head in the Belt Up round on Friday night in a rescheduled Round 10 of the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball league.
It was the last time the two teams compete for the season, with Rangers securing their final win over Demons 56-59, but falling just short of finals after Comets defeated Lightning to secure fourth place on the ladder.
Demons had first hands to the ball however Rangers were first to find the scoreboard as Amy Donaldson doubled as a defender and play maker as she fed the ball through to shooter, Katie Swetman, who came out of the circle to open up the play for their side. Wing attack, Chelsea Meade, passed in between the opposition as she set up a terrific feed into the circle. Rangers found the lead in the first quarter which lead to Demons re-evaluating their game plan.
Demons looked like a different side during the second quarter, Nikala Smith scoring a couple of incredible goals and on the other end of court keeper, Stacey Nourish, read the play to start Rangers in the circle as the ball got turned over.
The turnovers became an asset to Demons as they levelled the scoreboard when the first half ended at 29 all.
Rangers commenced the final half of the game by incorporating faster and sharper passes. Demons kept up the fight as winger, Montana Turnbull, found excellent opportunities in feeding through to shooter, Meg Gallagher, who was left open as Rangers picked up two on one in the circle.
Demons tried to hold onto the lead but lost it in the final minutes as Rangers’ winger, Abigail Dargan, centre Kate Bunten, and shooter Georgia Pitt, all managed to steal the ball through intercepts and turn the game around for their side.
Demons defenders both picked up Pitt in circle, leaving shooter Samantha Campbell open to score. Campbell shot at a rate of 92 per cent while Pitt scored a significant 31 goals from her 37 attempts.
Rangers coach, Joanne McKee, was very pleased with the win.
“I was really pleased with their fight back I think there was four minutes to go and it was an eight goal turn around. It was just pleasing to see the girls really want it and go out and finish the game strong,” she said.
“I thought Sam Campbell in GS put a lot of calmness down in the shooting end and Claire Pickerill in GK started to have a crack at ball. The centre court players were quite relentless, so they got turnovers as well.
Western Roar face Curtin Hamersley Comets in the semi-final on Friday 6 August.
West Coast Warriors face ECU Souwest Jets in the semi-final on Friday 6 August.
OPEN LADDER
Warriors 26 PTS
ECU Jets 15 PTS
Roar 15 PTS
Comets 14 PTS
Sharks 12 PTS
Rangers 12 PTS
Demons 10 PTS
Lightning 4 PTS
OPEN RESULTS
Rangers 59 defeated Demons 56
Warriors 50 defeated Roar 41
Comets 67 defeated Lightning 52
Jets 51 defeated Sharks 39
