Ultra-consistent Graduates put target on dazzling DiamondBack Donovan
AFTER inflicting OHA’s first women’s Premier League loss of the season and their first in 10 head-tohead matches, North-West Graduates will be out to consolidate their strong form with victory against DiamondBacks from 1.30pm today.
Graduates will field experienced goalkeeper Merinda Sainty, with multi-sport athlete Kacee Ponting facing a fixturing clash, with her representing Clarence Zebras.
With Ebony Alexander, Anne Dunk and Josie Crowden also missing, Ponting believes Graduates need to limit the influence of Emily Donovan.
“One of their biggest strengths is having one of the competition’s best players in Willow (Donovan), who will definitely be one of their key players on Saturday,” Ponting said.
“From observing her recently, her link-up play with her sister Kara Gill has been outstanding and she also has the ability to break through lines and finish off in the attacking circle.”
Another key to DiamondBacks’ success has been their return on penalty corners, which Ponting says forces her to look for small cues to ascertain how she sets up the defence.
“A Nicole Geeves hit is always scary to come up against and Sophie Kruimink has developed a nice penalty corner strike, while the deflection from Donovan is a hard one to deal with,” Ponting said.
Donovan admits Graduates have been playing consistent hockey and will be a tough side to defeat.
“It always adds so much to us as a group when Madison Clark and Lucy Cooper are available, and we also have little Emily Rawson back,” Donovan said.
In other senior action, Derwent faces University from 10.30am and OHA meets Canterbury at noon.