West Coast Warriors began the first game of the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League season, with a 77-42 win over Curtin Hamersley Comets at the Gold Netball Centre on Friday night.
The Warriors got off to a fast start with star goal shooter Nellie Wallam scoring six unanswered goals within the first few minutes.
A number of poor passes from the Comets resulted in a quarter of high turnovers, with the Warriors up 25 goals to 10 at the end of the first term.
Although the Warriors dominated the majority of possession in the second quarter, Comets defender Ella Taylor was instrumental from the back in helping her side to a fast finish.
Both sides began to show signs of fatigue during the second quarter, with the Warriors leading 44 goals to 22.
Strong defensive work from Warriors goal keeper Stephanie Cooper and goal defence Natalie Bright in the third quarter, forced the Comets to a large number of mistakes.
The Warriors continued their dominance by pressing forward, with goal shooter Wallam winning a majority of the two-on-one contests inside the circle.
Warriors’ good brand of netball resulted in 64-30 at the end of the third quarter.
The Comets led the final term positively, with young gun defender Jennifer Brown producing a string of intercepts and fast passing to ensure her side finished strongly.
The Warriors were dominant winning all four quarters, Wallam converted 69/71, while Comets’ shooter Sarah East converted 31/38.
West Coast Warriors Coach Lorraine Ward said she was pleased with the opening round result, but stresses that more work is needed to be done.
“I am really proud of them, it’s been a hard road to get here without any contact training and we had to work really hard in the last four weeks to get today done,” she said.
“They worked really well as a whole unit tonight.
“We’ve had dips in fitness and we need to work on our passing and execution placement and be a little tighter in defence.”
Next Friday, The Warriors take on Western Roar at the Gold Netball Centre at 8.30pm, whilst The Comets face off against ECU Souwest Jets on Sunday at 2.30pm (GNC).
