Glencoe 58 d Port MacDonnell 38
After a rainy day, the skies cleared for the Mid South East netball Round 9 clash between Glencoe and Port MacDonnell.
With both teams sitting on four wins and three losses, there was plenty riding on the game.
Both teams came out strong defensively, with Glencoe’s Sarah Edwards intercepting the first centre pass and the Demons’ Alana Winter getting hand to ball on the second.
The Murphies were able to settle quicker and adjust, with Donna Jaeschke able to find the circle with ease in her 250th game, leading the Murphies to a six-goal advantage at the first break.
The Demon’s attacking line was able to link up more fluently in the second quarter but some early
inaccurate shooting allowed Glencoe’s Chantelle Cocks opportunity on the rebound.
Winter and Belinda O’Dine continued to work hard in the Demons’ defensive circle, not giving the Glencoe goalie combination of Jenna Paproth and Malinda Markiewicz an inch.
Markiewicz, unfazed by the increased attention, netted 11 of the Murphies 14 goals for the quarter and increased their lead by four goals at half time.
Port MacDonnell came out of the main break having reshuffled their entire team in an attempt to claw back the 10-goal deficit.
Winter and youngster Lara Wilson moved into the shooting circle, pushing Brooke Williams into the centre and giving Kirby Carrison the goal keeper bib.
Glencoe jumped on the opportunity to put away the unsettled line up, with Markiewicz and Paproth now able to find the post with greater ease.
Winter did her best to swing back the momentum for her team but tight defensive pressure from Cocks and Edwards kept them to only seven goals, while Glencoe piled on 16 for the quarter.
The final term saw a much tighter contest, with play going goal-for-goal.
Jaeschke continued dominate through the middle for the Murphies and linked well with Ashlea Edwards to deliver easy ball into the Glencoe goalies.
Winter continued to fight hard for the Demons, receiving plenty of ball in their attacking third but the defensive pressure continued to come from the Murphies.
The Demons put out a strong performance and only went down by one goal in the final quarter but it was too little, too late as Glencoe ran out 20-goal winners on their home court.
Best players for the victors were Jaeschke and Cocks while Narelle Lewis and Jess Trench were best for Port MacDonnell.
