Phys Ed C edges Columba

PHYS Ed C beat Columba College 4744 in a closely contested Dunedin premier game on Saturday.

The lead changed hands throughout the game but Phys Ed was able to get ahead when it mattered most.

A fivegoal difference right at the start was the largest lead either team could get.

That was held by Phys Ed but Columba managed to catch up and close the gap to three by the end of the first period.

The school team took just four minutes into the second quarter to level the score, thanks to a pickup by centre Riley Piebenga.

Just three minutes later, a rebound off a missed shot by Phys Ed allowed Columba to nudge ahead for the first time in the game.

Goal shoot Brenna Lyons moved well under the hoop while goal attack Tessa Milton rolled around the circle and landed some longdistance shots.

Down the other end of the court, Phys Ed wing attack Grace Balmer drove nicely onto the circle edge to feed her shooters.

By halftime, the difference was just one goal, 2625 in favour of Columba.

The third quarter started with a flow of goals from both teams which allowed Phys Ed to level the score, but things quickly became unstuck.

Both teams were guilty of making errors and not capitalising on the ball they won.

Three held balls were called in that quarter, a credit to both teams’ defensive efforts.

After a passage of backandforth play, Columba was the first to settle.

It then landed three in a row to pull ahead by four goals but, as was the trend in this game, Phys Ed caught up.

With 35 goals each heading into the final quarter, the game was up for grabs.

An intercept by Phys Ed wing defence Luci Butler gave chance her team a chance to push ahead.

Defensively, the team picked up ball in Columba’s attacking third.

Goal shoot Tessa Bekkers was a constant option for her team throughout the game and was reliable in the circle.

She landed 25 goals from 31 attempts, at 81%.

Columba kept the intensity until the final whistle but could not narrow the margin.

In other games, St Hilda’s and College Red drew 5050, College A beat Southern Magpies 6333, and Phys Ed A defeated Phys Ed B 6831.

North Otago netball was cancelled due to wet courts on Saturday.