IRYMPLE 50 d IMPERIALS 44
Best: Irymple: Steph O’Loughlin, Mackenzie Ryan. Imperials: Maddie Alvino, Alle Littore.
THREE THINGS WE LEARNT
RAPID FIRE: Imagine being at the netball, and turning to have a quick chat to an acquaintance, or potentially having nature call you away. Sorry, you’ve just missed about 10 goals. The pace of the game at times was as frenetic as a Metallica riff.
CROWD CONTROL: It was a great turnout to watch the A Graders put on a brilliant display of athleticism. The decision to have A Grade play at different times to the senior football is an inspired one, as there wasn’t a lot of room to move in the bleachers.
MADE OF TOUGH STUFF: These girls know how to handle body contact. Call me Captain Obvious but concrete is much less forgiving than turf, however these netballers often bounce back up like a pinball.
IRYMPLE are staking their claim as a team to beat in the 2021 SFNL A Grade netball premiership race.
Despite not having full personnel available, the Swallows held off a fast-finishing Imperials side to claim a 50-44 win at Henshilwood Oval.
Towering shooter Steph O’Loughlin proved the difference-maker in attack as her height was hard to combat for Imperials defensive duo of Kia Scott and Bridget Bennett. O’Loughlin and Megan Hammond provided a strong one-two punch.
Youngster Indi Spratt showed an impressive ability to pressure the passer, and her move from WA to WD in the second-half paid dividends.
Young defensive duo Mackenzie Ryan and McKensie Wade also put in a fine performance against top quality Imperials recruits Amy Dodds and Maddie Alvino, who threatened to take the game away late.
Holding a three-goal lead at halftime, it was a strong third quarter that made the difference for the home side, scoring 16 goals to eight in a frenetic contest.
Irymple centre Shakara Delcastegne believed getting that lead played an important part in the result.
“We got that lead in the third quarter which was good, we just need to play out the full game but that’s definitely something we can work on,” she said.
“We just had confidence in ourselves, we weren’t expected to win so we had no pressure. We just went out did what we could. We’re definitely short of a few players, so to go hard in the third quarter and give ourselves a bit of breathing room for the last quarter was definitely the goal.”
In their first hit-out of the season, Imperials showed their versatility with a lot of positional changes, however the creativity of Alle Littore and Alvino with their passing kept the girls in green and white in the game.
While Irymple have the bye this week, Imperials will be at home to Red Cliffs.
In other games, Wentworth moved to the top of the A Grade ladder with a strong win over Robinvale, 61-22.
Captain Ashlee Cameron and Georgia Becker dominated in defence for the Roos while Taneh Romeo and Corinne Best tried their hardest for the Eagles.
Mildura and South Mildura got their first wins of the season, coming against Merbein and Red Cliffs respectively.
Alex Leng starred for the Demons in their six-goal win, while Emily Gray and Stephanie White were named in the best for the Pies.
Rachel Jaynes scored 33 in South’s 17-goal win, while Georgia Chase and Rhianna Toms were prominent. The Tigers’ attacking duo of Jorja Parker and Montana Hulland were impressive in defeat.
