Rangers have defeated the winless Southside Demons 62-34 at the Gold Netball Centre on Friday night for the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League.
Rangers 19-year-old defender Sunday Aryang, who featured midweek for West Coast Fever against the WA All-Stars, had a strong performance in defence against the Demons.
Aryang who has been selected for Australia in the 24-player 2021 Netball Youth World Cup squad, was strong on the rebounds, quick on the ball movements and instrumental to the Rangers attack.
Following the Rangers win, Aryang reflected on her performance.
“I think I probably could step up my performance a little bit [tonight], I feel like there’s another level that I can bring,” she said.
“[Like] with the same level that I bring to Fever, I know that I can bring it here and it is quite disappointing that I am [actually] not delivering it.”
Rangers League Coach Jo Mckee said she was delighted with young Aryang’s performance and that her raw talent is still yet to be unleashed.
“Sunday’s great, I’m just gonna keep pushing her, I reckon she’s just cruising a little bit and I told her that she still has a lot more in the tank.”
Having lost the opening two rounds of the season, the Demons came out firing in the first quarter to lead 12-11 at the break.
The Demons’ co-captain Brittany Turnbull played a standout performance for her side, an engine between the wing attack and centre roles.
With the likes of Sunday Aryang, captain Kate Bunton and Georgia Pitt stepping up for Rangers, the Demons started fumbling on errors which allowed their opposition to lead 31-17 at the half.
Southside Demons goal shooter Meg Gallager was another standout as she fired a number of back-to-back goals in the third quarter to narrow the chase for her side.
But as fatigue kicked in for the trailing side, the much sharper Rangers began to run away with the game leading 44-27 at the end of the third.
In the final quarter, the Demons were rather quiet in attack and Rangers’ strong defensive pressure ensured a 28-goal victory for the girls in green and black.
Mckee was proud of her team’s effort on the night.
“I was really pleased with the girls efforts in every quarter, they showed lots of heart and it was a full team’s effort,” Mckee said.
“I think there’s always something to work on, like our starts [first quarter], we need to maintain control and not lose focus throughout the game.
“There are absolutely more positives to take from that game than negatives.”
Next Sunday at home, Rangers take on Western Roar at Mundaring Arena at 11.45am whilst the Demons are away to Curtin Hamersley Comets at Curtin Stadium at 2pm.
