College A back from break, guns blazing

College A goal shoot Talei Pelasio (left) jockeys for position in front of St Hilda's Senior A...
College A goal shoot Talei Pelasio (left) jockeys for position in front of St Hilda's Senior A goal keep Ruby Flannery during a Dunedin premier club netball game at the Edgar Centre on Saturday. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON
College A emerged from the Dunedin premier A competition’s three-week break firing with a 75-34 win over St Hilda’s senior A on Saturday.

College was quick on attack, often only needing three movements from the centre pass to goal, and tight on defence throughout the court.

Collectively, the team’s three shooters shot at an impressive 89%, only missing nine attempts between them.

Goal shoot Talei Pelasio shot the bulk of the goals, landing 56 from 61 attempts at 92%.

Goal attack Ivy McLean, who subbed on in the second half, nailed all nine of her goals, while Kiana Pelasio slotted 10 from 14 in the first half.

College was slow out of the blocks, which allowed St Hilda’s to take an early 3-0 lead.

Any signs of loose connections between attackers were quickly extinguished, though, as College raced back into the game to take the lead.

The four-goal margin at the end of the first period was pushed out to 17 by the halfway mark. That was helped by a seven-goal run early in the second stanza which the school team could not match.

After scoring 10 goals in the first quarter, St Hilda’s managed eight in each of the following periods, while College scored 14, 21, 19 and 21.

College was tight on defence, particularly on St Hilda’s centre pass and baseline throw-in.

Despite this, St Hilda’s showed patience.

Players worked hard to get free for the centre pass and managed their way through multiple mid-court zones.

They were happy to pass the ball around, often going back to team-mates on the transverse line.

There was plenty of movement in its attacking third, as players did their best to evade their opposition.

Goal shoot Erin Hancock moved well, whether it was coming out of the circle to receive a pass, holding space under the hoop, or getting in front of her defenders.

Midcourter Gemma Rowcroft was nippy through court, while wing defence Lucy Taylor did her best to interrupt College play with a few tips.

College’s circle defenders Camryn Potangaroa and Alexis McClennan were particularly disruptive in the final quarter, picking off plenty of ball, which their team-mates capitalised on at the other end of the court.

College remains in second place in the standings, behind Phys Ed A, while St Hilda’s is at the bottom.

In other games, Phys Ed A beat Phys Ed C 64-38 and Phys Ed B defeated College Red 70-53.

The game between Columba College senior A and Southern Magpies was rescheduled.