Polished UniAlbion too strong
A POLISHED performance across the court powered UniversityAlbion to a 4838 win over Columba in the Dunedin premier club competition on Saturday.
Both sides played clean, patient netball in the first quarter, going goal for goal for the first three minutes.
GA Grace Southby was a key part of the attack end for UniAlbion, shooting from range and rolling the circle to separate the Columba defenders.
For Columba, captain Neve Graamans was especially strong at wing attack. She made herself available for the ball on the centre pass, and controlled the flow of the ball into the circle.
The game remained tight with neither side giving an edge, but the injection of UniAlbion defender Lose Fainga’anuku forced a held ball and some poor decision making from Columba, which enabled UniAlbion to score three in a row.
UniAlbion got plenty of intercepts but struggled in transition with Columba defenders working hard to put their hands up over the ball.
The score at halftime remained tight, 2421 to UniAlbion.
The second half featured the introduction of Columba rising star Emilie Nicholson at goal keep. Nicholson was named in the New Zealand secondary schools team last year, and has been named in the squad again this year.
The game continued to be a tight contest, and Nicholson combined well with fellow defender Holly McCrae to pressure the UniAlbion shooters. They were able to force a held ball in the circle to inspire their side to keep working hard.
The final quarter was when UniAlbion began to capitalise on its turnovers and push out the lead.
An impressive defensive effort by GD Brooke Callon and GK Laura Balmer helped seal UniAlbion’s victory.
In a tightly contested game in which Harriet Cuttance sank a highly pressured buzzerbeater, the Southern Magpies beat College B 5049.
Physed B edged College A 5145, and Physed A beat St Hilda’s 5937.