Big win for Hawks
New recruits and position changes did not deter the Drouin A grade team who scored a big win over Bairnsdale on Saturday to keep fourth place on the Gippsland League ladder.
A grade: Drouin 52 defeated Bairnsdale 28
It was a week of illness for some Hawks resulting in recruitment - and what a performance.
Spectators would not know Kylie Proctor was the recruit who stepped on court for the first time in awhile. Drouin made some adjustments to positions on court, with Karina Healy coming out to wing attack to fed into sisters, Kylie Proctor and Stacie Gardiner, who displayed some exquisite goaling in the ring. With Karina moving the ball into her sisters like she’s been playing with them her whole life (no comment as she really has been), it was a guaranteed win by the Hawks.
Ella Henderson and Sara Russell shared the centre and wing defence bibs. It had been awhile since Ella had played wing defence, but she didn’t miss a beat. Sara had a great day intercepting balls through the midcourt.
Down the other end of the court, Kym Diston again worked hard with April Bethune in defence. They took turns to go out hunting and made the most of the slippery and slow conditions.
Awards: Kym “Attack the Player and the Post” Diston and Sara “Intercept Queen” Russell.
B grade: Drouin 22 lost to Bairnsdale 35
In netball, there are combinations that can be watched all day. The B grade defensive unit is one of them.
Bairnsdale started with high pressure netball and although the Hawks got back in reach, they just couldn’t dig deep enough to get ahead and didn’t produce in the last quarter.
As a unit, they have the skills but need to find aggression to the ball.
Again, Ali Macarthur was brilliant to watch and her partner in crime (or defence) Maddy Caddy kept playing hard at the ball. The final part of the trio was Georgia Henderson who took charge of wing defence like she was born to play the position.
Jodie Proctor working hard on the movement in the ring with Chelsea De Riter who moved from defence into goals.
The Hawks will look forward to players out sick re-joining the ranks and pushing into the second half of the season.
Awards: Maddy “One-on-One” Caddy and Georgia “Taking Charge” Henderson.
C grade: Drouin 26 defeated Bairnsdale 10
There were multiple highlights in this game as Drouin took control of it - but Darcy Appleby had a hand in most. Whether it was going out hunting for the ball or just being in the right spot at the right time, Darcy took countless intercepts and created pressure through the whole defensive third.
Apparently there were six other people on the court, some also doing good things, such as driving down the court by Alice McKellar and Emily Dash, and working the ball tirelessly around the ring to help the goalers.
A second highlight of the day would be how the team rallied in the last quarter to not just sit back but actually push the scoreline, despite the slow and slippery tempo and nearly tropical weather conditions.
Awards: Darcy “Ball just Fell into her
Hands” Appleby and Emily “Dashing Down the Court” Dash.
17 and under: Drouin 31 drew Bairnsdale 31
A late start to the game didn’t stop the girls from putting pressure on Bairnsdale. A few turnovers had the girls in front.
Bairnsdale shooter turned her game on and hardly missed a goal. Kelly Mills and Allanah Jagoe kept the pressure on the shooters, with the ball coming down quick to their attacking end.
Some great passages of play down the court showed how well the Hawks are settling in as a team.
Drouin kept inching and finally got in front by five goals and held this lead for majority of the game. Unfortunately, due to some critical errors, Bairnsdale picked the ball and scored.
Up by one, Bairnsdale scored in the final minute to level. Unfortunately, the siren went and the girls drew.
Kelly Mills.
Award:
15 and under: Drouin 14 lost to Bairnsdale 51
It was tough day out for the Hawks who didn’t quite get their footing from the get go. Despite this, there were plenty of turnovers thanks to the defensive team in Zoe Curtis, Leilani Lightowler and Mylie Stoll. The girls in the ring worked well and used those voices the coach knew they had.
However, when transitioning to provide the goalers with opportunity off defensive efforts, the Hawks had trouble getting past the second transverse line.
The attackers did their job when they were given the ball in the goal third. Jamison Thomas and Bella Tangipo worked together to get around the some impressive Bairnsdale defence.
Once circle edge was fought for, it was almost always a safe pass into Sienna Arbon and Mia Trewin who moved seamlessly together and were accurate to post.
Lots of positives and aspects to work on in the coming games.
Awards: Bella Tangipo and Leilani “Lulu” Lightowler.
13 and under: Drouin 16 lost to Bairnsdale 34
This game provided a fabulous opportunity for a sleep in with a late start, and the crowd atmosphere was amazing.
The improvement seen in this team each week is credit to the girls who, again, were up against some very tall competition. The movement down the court was solid, as well as the the intercepts wherever possible.
Being a solid defensive little unit, good things will come.
Awards: Chloe Walsh and Sophie Cassidy.