In the only close game of the day Physed A got up over top-of-the-table South Pacific Titans A, 56-50 in Dunedin club netball on Saturday.
South Pac Titans went out to a great start after a five-goal run took them to a 7-3 lead within the first five minutes. After the slow start, Physed clicked into gear and found its rhythm.
Physed went on a run of seven goals, thanks to some great rebounding from goal defender Abby Erwood which gave Physed the lead with four minutes of play left in the first quarter of the game. After an intercept from South Pac goal defender Poppy Restireaux which was scored off at the other end, Physed went into the first break up by one, 14-13.
The second quarter was a lows-coring affair, going almost goal-for-goal and the quarter score was 11-all, even though there were plenty of turnovers. Both teams struggled to get the ball across their attacking line with some brilliant defensive pressure from the opposition. Intercepts went to Nadia Lyders, Chanel Phillips, Taylor Thorne and Restireaux from South Pac, while Erwood, Ella Brown, and Mara McCurdy picked up ball for Physed. After 15 minutes of back and forth, Physed held the one-goal lead to go into halftime up 25-24.
The third quarter was dominated by Physed with some nice flow on attack and more impressive defensive pressure. This pressure over the ball through the court resulted in the back three players, Erwood, McCurdy and Killarney Morley all picking up intercepts, as well as centre, Kate Heffernan getting one to her name, too.
South Pac struggled to react to the lift in intensity from Physed, which put on a run of five early in the period and then a run of seven to go into the final break up by nine goals, 45-36.
South Pac came back into the match in the fourth quarter, as Physed seemed to go off its game plan and the attacking end failed to connect the way it had in the previous quarter.
Physed tried to force a number of passes into the shooting circle, allowing South Pac to turn the ball over and claw the score back to a margin of six. Unfortunately, South Pac left its run a little late and was not able to get back into bonus point contention. Physed hung on to take the win, 56-50.
All the other games resulted in convincing margins, Southern Magpies beating Physed B, 68-41, St Hilda’s Collegiate Senior A beating Physed C, 60-42 and Markham’s College A prevailing over Physed Blue, 66-46.
With only one week left before the semifinals there is still room for movement in the top four and five teams still have a shot at the final.
- Bridget Thayer
