JEN CORNWALL

LADDER leader Sandy Creek showcased its dominance with a 79-7 victory over Lutheran in Gawler & District A-grade netball on Saturday.

Sandy Creek got off to a flying start, ending the first quarter with a 20-goal lead.

Lutheran kept its spirits  high going into the second quarter, concentrating on small passages of play driven by Bianca Sonntag in the mid-court.

The rain hit hard thereafter and didn’t let up, and neither did the Cockatoos as they extended their lead to 41-3 at half-time.

Lutheran battled valiantly through the second half, however Sandy Creek goalie Amber Rogers was on fire, scoring 49 out of her team’s 79 goals.

The win keeps the Cockies undefeated.

Meanwhile, an accurate Xavier Saints outfit defeated St George’s by two goals.

Xavier shooters Jessica Dunkeld and Ellisha Scordo proved too strong for the St Georges’ defensive end, however they were kept on their toes by Casey Korbely and Samantha Mathews who
made them work for each goal.

Strong leads flowed down the mid-court for Xavier courtesy of Erynne Miller and Ethenia Gilsenan-Reed’s ability to read the ball.

A tight Xavier defence put the pressure on Brooke Phelps and Leanne Clinch, but they fought hard to keep the score close.

In the end, Xavier’s accurate shooting proved to be the difference, with the Saints winning 29-27.

Elsewhere, Virginia was dominant as it defeated Gumnuts by 47 goals.

Virginia proved too strong in the first quarter and outplayed Gumnuts, getting off to a very early lead and leaving its opponent scoreless in the first quarter.

After some strategic changes to add defensive pressure, Gumnuts paired up Kirsten Whisson and Georgia Furst to shut down Virginia attackers Melissa Erikson and Grace Nicol.

Knowing the game had got away from them, Gumnuts turned their attention to improving its ball movement and strengthening the centre court.

Virginia remained strong throughout the entire four quarters, with Candice Blackford reading Gumnuts’ plays and intercepting the ball.

Virginia ended up with a 60-13 win.

In B grade, St George’s toppled Xavier Saints by six goals.

St George’s came out firing from the first minute, desperate to secure the win.

It was a close game for the first three quarters, however, St George’s capitalised in rainy conditions and pulled away in the fourth quarter.