IMPERIALS 61 d RED CLIFFS 50
BEST: Imperials: A. Littore, A. Dodds. Red Cliffs: H. Nelson, A. Ralli.
THREE THINGS WE LEARNT
TIMING IS EVERYTHING: Rolls of sports tape are probably bought by the bucket-load by netball clubs, and they are used up quickly. Maybe not quickly enough for Imps’ attacker Maddie Alvino, who was still getting her ankle strapped as players returned to the court for the second half. While she sat on the bench for the third term, replaced at WA by Eden Heinrich, she returned in the fourth quarter to help her team across the line.
TALL TIMBER: Imperials’ superior height to Red Cliffs’ youngsters was a major reason they remained in front for the second half. Their players gained enough separation to spear some wonderful pinpoint passes down the court and make important interceptions to slightly floated throws. There were times, however, they tried to force the ball down the court too quickly.
TIGER ARMY: At any level, when do you not associate Tigers supporters with reaching high decibels? Red Cliffs brought a vocal cheer squad with them, including the senior men’s football team at some points, who were excited about the display they put on.
RED Cliffs’ cubs on the netball court can smell a drought-breaking victory.
It has been 2515 days since the Tigers last won an SFNL A Grade netball game, all the way back on June 7, 2014.
In 2021 they are heading in the right direction, however, and with no players aged over 21 on Saturday, the girls from Quandong Park took the fight right up to Imperials, with the girls in green and white made to work hard for their 11-goal win.
Imps centre Alle Littore and shooting acquisition Amy Dodds showed strong composure under pressure to help their side to their first victory of the season, following a tight loss in their opening game against Irymple last week.
The Tigers had three 15-year-olds, attacking duo Jazmin Parker and Montanna Hulland and wing defence Jaida Baldwin, and the spirited performance of the squad earned plenty of praise from onlookers.
Red Cliffs coach Chantal Allford and captain Hayley Nelson were visibly ecstatic after the game, and the former is hoping the performance could lead towards something special.
“It was a ripper game from the girls, they really did play as a team. We’ve seen some massive improvement over the first three rounds and I couldn’t be happier about that,” Allford said.
“Our captain Hayley was our oldest player at 21, and our three youngest girls were 15, so our average age would be somewhere around the 18 mark.
“Given Imperials defenders put beautiful body pressure on our young girls, they stood up the challenge. It can be a hard thing for a young netballer to deal with and Imps did it well, but I thought our girls were great.
“Jazmin and Montanna – they will be an absoute dynamic duo for this club over the next couple of years.
“We did tend to get caught up in a rush at times and get drawn out of position towards the ball, so we do need to learn sometimes to take a breath and slow the game down a bit.
“It was a little chaotic out there but Imperials are a good team.
“We’re not looking for a premiership right now, but just to get one win on the board will do big things for these girls.
“If they can learn to win, then looking a few years down the track they could be unstoppable.
“I think the way we’ve played will be an eye-opener to the bigger clubs.”
In other results, Ouyen United returned from the bye in fine fashion, grabbing a 54-39 victory over Merbein.
Goal attack Casey Crothers scored 33 times and, along with defenders Tsharni Burns and Cathrine Brown, were instrumental in the result.
Defender Johannah Gray and Charmarell McCarroll were named best for the Magpies.
Georgia Chase and Maddy Toms helped lead South Mildura to a tight four-goal win over Robinvale Euston, 48-44, with goal attack Georgia Giofrelle impressing for the Eagles.
Centre Jess Collihole and defender Natalie Vercher led the way for Wentworth as the Roos moved to a 3-0 start to the season with a 51-33 win over Mildura.
Katelyn Challis and Sharon Watson were the top performers for the Demons.
