YET another powerful performance from undoubtedly the SFNL’s unstoppable netball force saw Wentworth cruise to a 69-34 victory away at Quandong Park against Red Cliffs.
After a competitive first two quarters, the Roos proceeded to run away with the contest in the second half on Saturday extending their blistering run and increasing the likelihood that they will go another regular season without suffering a defeat.
Wentworth held a seven goal advantage going into the first break before goals from Brooke Edson and Zara Copley saw the deficit get cut to as little as four in the second quarter.
This was the closest Tigers would get to challenging the league leaders as consistent finishing from elite goal threat Amanda Edwards shifted momentum giving the Roos an eight point cushion at half-time. This was carried on in monumental fashion going into the rest of the match.
Edwards and teammate Elizabeth Rowe piled on goals in quick succession while the defiant Natalie Vercher produced another rock solid display at goal keeper, eliminating any rhythm Edson and Coply had discovered earlier.
A 21 goal lead at the conclusion of the third period was built on further in the last as Wentworth finished even stronger.
The mammoth scoreline saw Edwards sink a whopping 48 which has become the norm for her as she is now just one goal away from taking her tally to the 600 mark for this season alone.
Despite still beating Merbein by 17 last Saturday, Edwards and her side were fixed on delivering an even more dominating clinic.
“It was a really great game today, obviously a lot better performance for us I think than last week,” said Edwards.
“We worked really hard at training this week, really knuckled down on a few things we wanted to work at.
“But I’m really impressed with everyone’s effort, it was definitely a team win today.”
Edwards applauded Vercher for her efforts in protecting the lead and making life extremely difficult for Tigers in terms of mounting any resounding comeback.
“I think you can’t put it past goalkeeper Nat Vercher today, she was phenomenal,” she said.
“Workhorse, coming up with rebounds, balls and we didn’t get much rest because the ball was coming straight back.
“She was amazing.”
Vercher is part of a Roos defensive layout that has conceded 124 goals less than second placed Mildura.
“She (Vercher) is one of the backbones, big strong defender down there and is just hungry for that ball,” said Edwards.
“In big moments when we need the ball she is amazing.”
Wentworth walked away from Quandong with a 35 goal triumph and now look to next weekend when they play perhaps their most fiercest competition and biggest threat to breaking their unbeaten streak in Mildura.
“I think we’re going to be put in hard spots coming into finals and we know that,” said Edwards.
“Now it’s just really flicking that switch into gear.
“We’re taking it week by week and we just really want to capitalise when we are up.”
Meanwhile, Red Cliffs have been pulled into a scrambling battle for that fifth placed finals spot after South Mildura beat Irymple on Saturday.
Level on points but just ahead on goal average, the Tigers play the Bulldogs next week in a fixture that will all but decide who will play post-season netball.
