Kinglake 2 returned to the winner’s list in the NFNL winter netball Section 10 competition, defeating Watsonia 4 by nine goals at Nets Banyule Stadium.
The 29-20 result was the Lakers fourth victory of the season and has given them a shot at a top four spot by season’s end, moving just two wins shy of fourth placed Bundoora 8.
Watsonia are still slightly in the hunt, but would need to win at least three of their final four games to give themselves any chance of a finals berth.
It was a tough start for both sides with neither able to pull away, demonstrated with each team scoring five goals in the opening term.
The pressure was on early for the Saints, with the Lakers smothering defensive style pushing everyone to the sidelines, forcing the shooter to punch up the middle, leaving no player in the circle and the shooters out of the equation.
Kinglake’s shooting load was falling on goal attack Shawnee Bourke (19 goals) with her timing into the circle being effective whilst holding her ground in the backspace and swapping roles with the fellow shooters throughout the match.
In the second quarter, the Lakers’ game play was incredibly clinical as they did not need to create high leaping intercepts risky feeds to control the game. Their work ethic was highlighted in the term, when they kept the Saints to just three goals, while scoring seven of their own to take an important four-goal advantage into half time.
Watsonia came out of the main break with a bang thanks to multiple changes in the attacking end. Rexonna Tugaga (six goals) made the shift from defence into the shooting circle, allowing her and her teammates to gain confidence.
Tugaga’s holds on the baseline were nice and strong, she was a strong target under the post, a great backup on most loose balls, and gave confidence in Briony O’Halloran (13 goals) and Jordee Anderson (one) on the feed.
Anderson was bringing the speed in the attack end in wing attack whilst O’Halloran was pacing the play in the shooting circle to find a better shooting opportunity.
Their defence did start to fizzle and the transition into attack faded when Courtney Dickinson was not on the court in the third, but when she re-entered in the fourth, she made her presence known, winning the ball back continuously around the circle edge and helping with her side’s turnover conversions.
Still, Watsonia won the quarter by one goal, setting up a thrilling final term.
But the Lakers made the fourth quarter their own, scoring a game high nine goals, to secure victory. Their last term efforts were mainly brought by Charlee Mansfield, who was able to get around the body with ease and win the ball back for Kinglake.
Her arms over pressure caused many sprayed balls for the Saints, allowing the Lakers to manage control of the game.
Some great skill in attack from Kinglake illustrated the confidence the side had grown throughout the match and was an entertaining end to a great performance.
