Imps pip Pies in back and forth affair

IMPERIALS’ slow but steady climb up the SFNL A Grade ladder continued at a windswept Brian Weightman Oval court on Saturday with a hard-fought win over another side with finals ambitions, Merbein.

Imps jumped out to a five-goal lead at the first break and maintained that margin until half-time, but then the Magpies slowly reeled the hosts in and levelled the scores in the final quarter before the team in green caught a second wind and reclaimed that five-goal margin at the last horn – 45-40.

The gritty performance in gusty conditions – a shooter’s nightmare – saw Imperials move up one place to sixth, but that’s only two points off second on a tightly-packed table.

Imps coach Ali Walker wanted her team to get off to a quick start and that’s exactly what she got before the mid-game wobble at the weekend.

“We talked about starting strong and making sure that first quarter was ours to get on top of the game from the get-go,” Walker said.

“When we are playing chase-up it’s really hard to catch up in that A Grade standard of netball.

“In the second and third we dropped a little and got a bit down on ourselves but the message going into the last quarter was to focus, find our own game, get around each other and protect the ball and I couldn’t complain, they did that very well.

“It was hard goalling weather today, but they took a breath, found their range and finished off strong, so that’s what won us the game.”

In a solid team effort, Walker said she was particularly pleased with three regular performers.

“Trace (Sherlock) is just consistent through that mid-court, she just goes and goes and goes. Maddy (McManus) is like a real leader in the team and steadies everyone,” Walker said.

“Kia (Scott) was very good in defence again, talking down the court and bringing that defence together with the young girls.”

With the first half of the regular season in the books, the coach is also quite happy with where her team is in the standings.

“I was hoping for top five and that’s near where we are,” Walker said.

“It’s hard coming into the second round. We play random teams, it’s not in the same order, so it’s hard to know where we will fall by the end of it, but the goal is to be in the top five and see what we can do.”

Despite the loss which dropped her outfit to seventh, Merbein coach and defender Johannah Gray said she was impressed by the Magpies’ effort on the day and relatively so with where they nest at the turn.

“I’m proud of the girls, we stuck to our game plan,” she said. “That’s the main thing and we kept fighting to the end.

“Sophie Gray and Vanessa (Rodi) had great games today, but I think everyone just lifted.

As for how the Pies are going over the journey so far, Gray said league was still wide open and everyone had a chance.

“To be honest, I had no idea where we would be at the halfway stage as this season is all over the place,” she said.

“Every round, every team is an unknown but it’s great and good for the comp to have an unknown for all of the teams.

“I’m just really impressed with how we stick together. We are a tight unit, and we are encouraging each other on and off the court. Having a good, healthy environment is the main thing.

“I don’t there’s one area we are particularly lacking in. It’s just playing to the team you are against and adapting to trying to win the game.”