Arrows hit target for Cavaliers’ first defeat
AYC-FRIENDS Arrows handed Cavaliers their first loss of the season with a great second half to win 62-50 in yesterday’s State League netball action.
The first quarter was a tight encounter. Arrows goalies Kate Prins and Hayley Sansom were moving beautifully to create space in the Arrows’ attack, while at the other end Melody Philpott was holding strongly and well supported by Deanna Wadley.
With few opportunities to race ahead, Arrows held the slimmest of margins, leading 16-15 at the first break.
Cavaliers came out firing to start the second. Lucy Dennis at wing attack for Cavaliers was working hard to find excellent connections with her goalies as her team went on to score five of the first six goals to take a 20-17 lead.
But Arrows managed to draw back level before scoring the last three goals of the quarter, with Sansom and Prins rewarding their team’s defensive efforts with excellent shooting as they took a 29-27 lead into halftime.
Cavaliers got the first break of the third to reclaim the lead, but Arrows fought back as the defensive duo Kate Schwartz and Zoe Gough gave Cavaliers’ goalies little space.
Arrows’ physical pressure increased as they were able to take control late in the quarter, capitalising on Cavaliers’ mistakes to take a handy 44-37 lead into the last quarter.
Arrows’ defensive pressure continued into the last as they forced Cavaliers to make several errors. Cavaliers defenders Dannie Carstens and Isabella Maskell were throwing everything they could at Arrows in an effort to claw back the margin, but it wasn’t enough as Arrows finished strongly.
Arrows coach Andrew Jackson was pleased with the team’s effort and composure.
“It was a good solid win against an opposition that threw everything at us defensively,” he said.
In Saturday’s other matches, Devon scored its first win of the season with a 60-49 win over St LukesHealth Karana, Cavaliers had a strong 56-32 win over Cripps Waratah and Northern Hawks were 77-53 victors over Kingston Blues.
In yesterday’s matches, Kingston had a comprehensive 77-33 win over Devon and Northern Hawks handed Cripps a heavy 71-42 loss.