OUYEN United dominated depleted Merbein on Saturday, earning a 49-goal win and boosting their ladder position.
The clinical Kangas took advantage of a young Magpies side, with the final score reading 79-30.
It took Merbein well into the first quarter to find any momentum, the Kangas scoring 15 goals in a row before the Magpies were able to get a second score on the board.
After elevating players from lower grades to fill their side, Magpies coach Breigh Hammet said it was clear the young side were “a little bit awestruck” but that sometimes more could be taken from a loss than from a win.
“As much as it is a blowout, it’s a good lesson for the girls,” Hammet said.
“We have spent the last few weeks just trying to teach them fast isn’t better netball, fit isn’t better netball – execution of your structures is what creates good netball.
“That is all Ouyen did.
“They just went out and could release the ball without even looking because they knew their teammate was going to lead to the position they needed to be in.
“I think what it does is reiterate to them that once they execute those structures and understand them, that’s what netball is all about.”
Kangas playing coach Kyra Nathan said she was really pleased with her team’s performance.
“We thought we played really well last week, and then we had a completely different combination this week and we had one out,” Nathan said.
“But I thought we executed the basics really well.”
Among the Kangas’ best were Casey Crothers in defence and Ellen Morrish in the midcourt, while the Magpies’ elevated B Grade player Shelby Hooker held her own under immense pressure in their attack end, as did under-17 player Rhiannon Jack.
While Merbein dropped out of the top five, the big win pushed Ouyen United into third place.
Merbein 30 lost to Ouyen United 79
BEST: Merbein: Shelby Hooker, Rhiannon Jack. Ouyen United: Casey Crothers, Ellen Morrish.
