Netball
29 April, 2024
Kalkee defeat Rupanyup in one-point thriller
Kalkee A Grade netballers survived a late surge to defeat Rupanyup in a thriller at Kalkee Recreation Reserve in round three of the Horsham District Football Netball League.
Rupanyup and Kalkee are expected to be in the top echelon this season alongside Laharum and the match failed to disappoint, with the game played like a sudden death final with brilliant defence and great offensive skills.
The match was a tight battle throughout with a lot of pressure applied early from both teams and at the quarter-time break Kalkee had a slender two-goal lead.
The second quarter was as tight as the first with only 14 goals scored, 10 of which came through Rupanyup who took a 3-point lead into halftime.
The third quarter mirrored the first half in which neither team gave an inch as Kalkee came back to level the scores 26 apiece at three-quarter-time.
In the last quarter, the Kees started to get on top with Lotus Martin excellent down back intercepting everything that came her way and Penny Fisher was also brilliant in defence as they moved out to a six-goal lead with only a handful of minutes remaining.
The Panthers weren't laying down, coming with a late surge, to narrowly miss by one point, in a 36-35 scoreline.
Jenna Bywater shot 22 goals in the win and combined well with Jarrah Martin showing their chemistry. Claire McDonald was also massive in defence and was named their best player.
Zanaiya Bergen shot a game-high 25 goals for the Panthers with Anna Sudholz and Meg Cashin brilliant on the court.
Kees coach Paula Wiedermann was thrilled with the win and said they started to click later in the game.
"I think as a team we started to settle late in the third and early fourth and we were able to capitalise on our turnovers," Wiedermann said.
"We were forcing too many of our passes and weren't working the ball enough. This is something as a nearly formed side we will continue to work on."
Wiedermann said that Lotus Martin's and Penni Fisher's defence was solid.
"Lotus was a great match-up on Zanaiya. Most teams would struggle to have a defender tall enough to make an impact and her and Penny's defence was a great combination," Wiedermann said.
"We have some awesome junior development players coming through our seniors, so giving them the opportunity to play and their willingness to learn and their eagerness to perform was demonstrated on the weekend with Georgia Schultz.
Georgia was one of our best players in attack with Jenna Bywaters who dominated in goals."
"Having the rolling subs also made an impact with fresh legs. We have a very strong side and it will be just finding the right combinations for each team we play."
Rupanyup's coach Jedda Heard was happy with their performance.
"It felt good to get that close to a top team. We threw a few away but with a new team and only our second game, I am happy with how we played and we are only going to get better," Heard said.
"We were up at halftime against a premier team and we had a lapse at the end of the third and start of the fourth, but to be able to come back the way we did, was a great effort from the girls."
Heard said Anna Sudholz and Meg Cashin both played brilliantly.
"Anna as our wing defence got a lot of intercepts. I think the wing defence is the most important position on the court. If you can't beat a wing attack you can't win a game and Anna did well to stop that attacking drive," Heard said.
"I think our mid-courters did well. Meg Cashin ran all day and was presenting and did a lot for the team today.
"We will take a lot out of this match but I am happy where we are at and look forward to the coming weeks."