Diamond Creek 2 led throughout all four quarters to bounce back and win their first 2023 NFNL senior winter netball match, claiming a 10-goal victory over St Mary’s 1 at La Trobe Sports Stadium.
The Creekers shot out of the blocks with a nine goal to three opening quarter, only losing one term for the remainder of the match to run out 26-16 winners.
Mahalia Rank was the star shooter for Diamond Creek with 15 majors with Tara Smith (eight goals) also excellent in the shooting circle.
For the Burra, Ciara Hanlon produced 14 of her side’s 16 goals, while goal defence Clare Nicholls producing a strong performance in the defensive end.
Rank and Smith caught fire early in the match, putting the Burra defence on the back foot from the opening whistle. Eliza Dixon and Vanessa Smith were also a handy duo in the defensive half, cutting off multiple opportunities from their opposition.
It allowed Diamond Creek to establish a healthy six goal advantage at quarter time.
Despite the flurry of Diamond Creek possession in their attacking half, Clare Nicholls ensured her side’s deficit didn’t increase any further, with some brilliant efforts in her goal defence role.
St Mary’s started to find their mojo in the second term, limiting the Creekers to just four goals while producing five of their own to reduce the deficit to five goals at the main break.
The Burra were hoping to continue their efforts into the second half, and they looked to have brought some more intensity to the contest in the early stages of the third term.
But Diamond Creek always had the answers, with Lagi Faale and Lauren Howlett both brilliant in setting the tone in the midcourt and feeding the ball well into the shooting circle.
It wasn’t long before the momentum shifted as a result, and the Creekers regained control of the match, scoring seven goals to three take a nine-goal lead into the final term.
Diamond Creek continued their impressive attacking form into the final quarter, with a six goal to five quarter rounding out a strong victory to open their account for the 2023 winter season.
