East Freo Sharks claimed a 54-40 victory in their rescheduled Round 1 game of the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League Opens against Southside Demons on Friday, June 18.
Demons made a flying start, scoring from their first centre pass, while Sharks started with similar energy, coming in with speed and putting a goal in immediately as well.
Demons put the pressure on, allowing them to regain possession of the ball from Sharks. Brittany Turnbull played for Demons as WA, making fantastic leads and was a vital part of ensuring her side could maintain possession and score.
Sharks turned up their focus, with Shakayla Ugle in GS shooting goal after goal to even the scores. There was no slowing down for the Sharks as Zoey Baxter in GA worked closely with Ugle to make an unstoppable pair in the first quarter, not missing an opportunity to put a goal on the scoreboard and leading to the Sharks dominating the first quarter, finishing with an eight-point lead.
Sharks hit the ground running in the second quarter, with Jessica Penny in GD displaying some outstanding rebounds to keep the same pressure up from the first quarter.
Defensively, Demons were led by Emily Hathaway in GD, who intercepted the balland passed on to her teammates. However, the Sharks pair in goals proved too strong with Zoey Baxter in GA and Abbey Hicks in GS, executing smooth ball handling and teamwork to increase the marginto31-23 at half time.
The third quarter saw the Turnbull sisters from Demons working together, with Brittany in Centre and Montana in WA to move the ball down the court swiftly. Defending their score advantage though, Jessica Penny was again in GD for Sharks, deflecting the ball and taking possession.
Demons’ GD Chanel Gomes kept up strong defence, but it did not compare to the pressure the Sharks maintained from their defence team Jessica Penny in GD and Molly Warne in GK, finishing with a 14-goal win, 54-40.
Sharks Opens Assistant Coach, Mel Rainey was proud of her team for the significant win.
“The girls did a really good job. We set out to work hard defensively and the girls executed that really well,” she said.
“We have been a little bit inconsistent at times, but the girls endeavouring to really fight back and try and bring back the game has been really good to see, so we just need to work on that a bit more for the rest of the season.”
ROUND 1 SCOREBOARD
Opens
East Freo Sharks Netball Inc defeated Southside Demons 54-40
Western Roar Netball Club defeated ECU Souwest Jets 51-39
Peel Lightning defeated Rangers Netball Club 57-43
West Coast Warriors Netball Club defeated Curtin Hamersley Comets 44-40
Men’s
West Coast Warriors Netball Club tied Western Roar Netball Club 55-55
Curtin Hamersley Comets defeated Southside Demons 51-37
U/20s
East Freo Sharks Netball Inc defeated Southside Demons 55-39
Curtin Hamersley Comets defeated West Coast Warriors Netball Club 49-38
Rangers Netball Club defeated Peel Lightning 53-49
Western Roar Netball Club defeated ECU Souwest Jets 53-34
