Hurstbridge 6 have returned to the winners list to round out the NFNL senior winter netball grading period, after a 12-goal victory over Hazel Glen 4 at Community Bank Stadium.
The Bridges came out victors 27 – 15 by capitalising on their gains, as the multiple one percenters that caused Hazel Glen to lose possession, would often lead to Hurstbridge converting down the other end.
It’s Hurstbridge 6’s second win of the season, finishing grading on a high ahead of playing the rest of the campaign in Section 12.
The moving circle of Daisy Hobbs (15 goals) and Arielle Earps (11) worked wonders for the Bridges, keeping the Hazel Glen defenders busy. Strong circle entrances from Hobbs and a wide and heavy split from Earps worked hand in hand as they were slotting goals from everywhere in the circle.
Hurstbridge found it difficult to get some attacking flow going for periods of the game thanks to Tenille Baker for Hazel Glen. The goal keeper, who had a stint in centre in the third quarter, brought her defensive prowess into the middle and goal third, winning back ball in those respective areas.
Most of the first half belonged to the Bridges, who produced 14 goals while keeping Hazel Glen to just five goals.
Hurstbridge were hitting the circle edge with ease throughout the two quarters, not finding any struggle on getting the ball into the circle and not having to rely on their defenders on the transverse line to resort back.
Despite being down at half time, Hazel Glen had a fairly equal third quarter thanks to some changes made which gave the side more energy in the middle third of the court.
A highlight of the third term was Kim Trathen, who’s great vision set up shooter Claire Toll on multiple occasions. Toll would finish with 14 of her sides 15 goals of the game and in the third term, she scored all seven goals for Hazel Glen.
The change of Sharne Jones into goal attack from centre after half time gave Hazel Glen another dominant feeder in the shooting circle where she used her speed to take her defender out of the equation and leave Toll in plenty of one-on-one situations which she would capitalise on majority of the time.
But Hurstbridge were still able to even up the quarter and keep their nine-goal lead intact at three quarter time.
Earps’ shift out of the goal circle in the final term didn’t stop the goals coming for the Bridges, with Hobbs making the most of the space provided to her by producing a five-goal quarter, all from mid-range or even further out, to seal victory for her side.
