Netball: College A keeps pressure on rest

Lauren Piebenga
Lauren Piebenga
College A made it two wins from two in the premier competition on Saturday, as it beat Phys Ed A 53-31.

After a tight opening spell, College again showed its defensive structures are one of the best in the competition, restricting Phys Ed to only three goals for the first quarter, and setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Danielle Grey, in particular, continued on from where she left off last weekend, combining with Renaye Flockton to pick up valuable ball for their shooters.

Phys Ed got caught up playing the game at College's speed and was in chase mode for most of the first quarter, as it tried to get some flow on attack.

The experienced shooting pair of Olivia Bates and Jamie Hume combined beautifully as College finished the quarter leading 17-3.

Starting down the barrel of a large early deficit, Phys Ed swung the changes. Erin Hughes came on at goal shoot, Sophie Johns switched forward to goal attack and Chloe Austin moved out to wing attack in an attempt to find more flow into the goal circle.

In an evenly contested second quarter, Phys Ed made better use of the ball it gained on defence and had better patience to make sure it was converted into a goal.

College had a patchy quarter but Amber Priddle and Sophie Napper both made easy use of the open midcourt on transition and found easy positioning on the circle edge for their shooters.

College coach Lauren Piebenga was pleased with the start to the season but disappointed there was now a two week break due to university and school holidays.

''It's almost an awkward time for a break. It would be nice to push on now that we have a bit of momentum,'' Piebenga said.

Phys Ed coach Alice Conrad was pleased with the changes she made but disappointed at her team's slow start.

''We didn't start well and it just seems to be taking that wee bit longer for our new combinations to gel,'' Conrad said.

''I was pleased that Erin came on and put up the shots, and when we switched Kate [Gilchrist] back into goal keep, we needed her to take out Jamie, as she was having a fantastic game.''

In the only other game played on Saturday, University Albion had a comfortable 72-31 win over Phys Ed B. Club bragging rights were decided earlier in the week, when the Southern Magpies beat Southern Tui 76-34.

By Jaimie Keay. 

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