KYLIE FORBY
SANDY Creek Green
and Virginia met for the
first time this Gawler &
District Netball Association
A-grade season on
Saturday, with Sandy
Creek showing its class
to prevail 49-32 in a
high-quality game.
Initially the sides were
evenly matched, with
the competition between
Amber Rogers in goals
for Sandy and Claire
Harris in defence for Virginia
the highlight.
The sides were only
one goal apart at both
quarter time and halftime,
but Sandy Creek
Green broke away in the
second half with concentrated
play from Jamee
Joyce helping to extend
the final margin.
Sandy Creek Blue was
also too good for Xavier
Saints in the other
A-grade contest, leading
by eight at the first
change as Elsa Davis was
instrumental for her team
in centre court.
Sandy goalie Hayley
Brooks was excellent up
forward to help carry her
side to a 49-24 win.
In B-grade, Xavier
Saints played Lutheran,
chalking up its second
win under trying conditions
37-32.
Lutheran started well
and led by one at quarter
time, but it lapsed in the
second quarter to allow
Xavier Saints to snatch
the lead, which it never
surrendered.
Tina McIntosh played
another good game for
the Saints, while Rachel
Brooke – in goals for Lutheran
– combined with
the defence of Anna Loebegeiger
to see the purple
win the second half, but it
wasn’t enough.
Sandy Creek continued
to show the depth of its
senior talent against Virginia,
leaving little doubt
as to the outcome of the
match after the first quarter.
Virginia had many
opportunities, but failed
to capitalise, with easy
goals being swiftly overturned
by Jessica Leach
in goals for Sandy Creek.
Virginia moved Kylie
Schunke out of defence
for experience in the centre
court, but Sandy was
too strong, winning easily
44-13.
In C-grade, Xavier
Saints and Gumnuts Purple
took to the court, with
Xavier’s Paula Rowlands
providing excellent drive
and feeding goalies Niamh
Monaghan and Tamika
James.
Xavier led by one goal
at the long break, before
Gumnuts raised the tempo
in the second half to
see Tayla Marks and Deb
Hutchinson combine to
consolidate scoring and
help grip onto a 29-27
win.
In under-13s, Gumnuts
played Sandy Creek
Green in a closely contested
struggle.
In the first quarter,
Gumnuts was able to take
a lead and keep Sandy
Creek goalless, before the
tables turned with Sandy
Creek surging ahead by
outscoring Gumnuts nine
goals to three.
The Sandy Creek side
was a slow burner, but
with excellent defence by
the two Isabellas – Young
and Francis – who kept
the Gumnuts’ shooters
restricted to stretch out to
a six-goal margin heading
into the final quarter.
Coming from behind,
Gumnuts continued to
scrap in the final quarter
as Jemma Pittner fed
beautifully into goals, but
ran out of time as Sandy
Creek came away with a
23-21 win.
Sandy Creek Blue
proved too strong for
Xavier Saints, winning
41-1 against the far less
experienced side.
Xavier defenders Lily
Yates and Amber Busch
tried valiantly in the final
half, but were no match
for Sandy Creek’s Kiyah
Beaucaris, who was a
standout for her side.
In under-12s, the age
and experience of Xavier
Saints Green was apparent
in the clash against
Xavier Saints Yellow.
The Green team were
solid throughout and
were well supported by
Philippa Batki and Lily
Drewett, who played in
both the attack and defence
lines.
Georgia Short for the
Yellow team played her
heart out in defence, but
had a big job with the
Green winning easily 50-
3.
RESULTS: A-grade: Sandy Creek Green d Virginia
49-32; Xavier Saints | Sandy Creek
Blue 24-49.
B-grade: Xavier Saints d Lutheran 37-
32; Virginia | Sandy Creek 13-44.
C-grade: Xavier Saints | Gumnuts
Purple 27-29; Gumnuts Jade | Sandy
Creek Netball Club 11-46.
Under-15: Virginia d Lutheran 71-8;
Xavier Saints | Sandy Creek 13-36.
Under-13: Gumnuts | Sandy Creek
Green 21-23; Xavier Saints | Sandy
Creek Blue 1-41.
Under-12: Lutheran | Virginia 1-56;
Xavier Saints Green d Xavier Saints
Yellow 50-3.