It was a slow start to the game for both teams, with connections taking time to settle. College was the first to pull away after breaking, stepping and offensive contact was called against Phys Ed, allowing College to lead 17-12 at the first break.
College wing attack Madeleine Walker created good space for herself and provided accurate feeds into College goal shoot and captain Isabella Masani. Masani played a big holding game at the back, allowing feeders to find her with confidence. She finished the game with 42 goals from 47 attempts. Goal attack Kiana Pelasio allowed Masani to find space through the circle by providing strong screens for her. Pelasio slotted the long bomb when needed and helped her side go into the halftime break up 31-22. Phys Ed appeared stagnant on attack for the majority of the first half and struggled to find flow when transitioning the ball from defence to attack down the court.
It brought Yvonne Mitchell into wing attack at third quarter time and she injected much-needed speed into the attack end. Phys Ed goal shoot Maggie Burns moved the ball quickly around the goal circle and faked the defenders off her shot to allow her free reign at the hoop.
Burns scored the majority of Phys Ed’s goals, slotting 37 of her team’s 44 points.
College’s Dani Kirby showed off her full range of skills, playing at wing defence, centre and wing attack in the game. College introduced Southern Steel player Dani Gray at goal defence for the last quarter.
Gray picked up four intercepts, two tips, two rebounds and one reject over the shot in a solid display of netball and helped her team claim the dominant win.
In a repeat of last year’s final, Southern Magpies beat St Hilda’s Collegiate School A 77-50. Southern Steel’s Jennifer O’Connell turned out for Southern at goal shoot, scoring 25 from 29 and leading her team into the halftime break up 40-25. O’Connell was replaced by Katherine Morris at halftime and she provided a good hold, ably fed by wing attack Penny Mouat.
St Hilda’s struggled to gain flow bringing the ball down the court due to the defensive pressure from Southern. Southern goal defence Tarryn Dickson was tenacious on defence, coming through the centre third to grab intercepts and stunt St Hilda’s attacking flow.
St Hilda’s wing defence Beryn Abbot provided great feeds from the centre third into goal shoot Megan Borst, but it was not enough to put her team in front. Later in the day, Phys Ed A thumped University Albion B 111-21. Phys Ed wing attack Kate Heffernan had a strong defensive game for a wing attack, picking up intercepts in the centre third and turning them into pinpoint accurate feeds.
- Kayla Hodge
