JAGUARS RAISING THE BAR IN QSNL FINALS PUSH
THEY’VE tested the best.
Now, Golden South coach Paula Stuart says the challenge for the Jaguars is to keep raising the benchmark in their quest for a Queensland State Netball League finals berth.
While their win-loss record sits at 2-2 heading into tonight’s battle with Carina Leagues, the Jags lost no admirers in a spirited 52-47 defeat to three-time champions Brisbane North in Round 4.
With scores locked at 38-38 entering the final quarter, Stuart said her rebuilt side had shown it could match it with the best.
“With about five minutes to go we were still even and that’s when Cougars probably broke free,” she said. “There was not many errors in the game so if anyone made an error the other team suffered for it.
“What it’s shown so far this year is all six teams are fighting for a position in the top four. It’s anyone’s game and it’s going to be a hard finish until the end.
“We’ve had the Cougars and now we’ve got Tigers (tonight) and both teams have been the frontrunners for so many years.
“If we can try and match it with them now that gives us a good indication (of how we’re going). They’ve got about four or five players that come from the Gold Coast, (which shows) the Gold Coast has got a fantastic development program. It’ll be interesting.”
Among the positives in the Cougars loss was Kahli Henwood, who has been promoted from the under-19 squad ahead of Brie Reichman’s impending return to Melbourne.
“She filled in for us in the second half against the Cougars so for someone who hasn’t trained with us she did a great job,” Stuart said.
Tonight’s game begins at 8.15pm at Logan.