LIAM PHILLIPS
GAWLER Central is shaping up as the
Barossa, Light & Gawler Netball Association
Senior 1 team to beat after following
up last week’s strong win at Kapunda with
a 52-44 home win against South Gawler on
Saturday in soaking conditions.
Tigers coach Reece Turtur said his side was
going in expecting a tough contest, and it delivered.
“We know about the experience and skill
of South, and that it was going to take a fullteam,
four-quarter effort to get the job done,”
he said.
“The first half really reflected the intensity
from both teams, and it was goal-for-goal
really.
“It was a kind of feeling out process, with
both teams trying to see where the other’s
strengths and weaknesses were.
“It was going to come down to how each
team responded in the second half to get the
job done.”
Turtur said the halftime talk was about
combating the size and experience of the Lions
defence with speed and ball movement.
“We had a focus on not just our movement,
but also the ball speed to make sure that we’re
getting them out of position and getting our
attackers into good areas,” he said.
“We knew if we weren’t applying enough
defensive pressure that the South shooting
circle is very accurate, and if they get
it in their spots it’s essentially a guaranteed
goal, so it was about disrupting their
attacks earlier in the chain. “We couldn’t just
ask our defenders to win the ball back, we
needed to start the pressure in the attacking
half to create earlier turnover opportunities
and starve the shooters.”
Turtur said the game was won with a 17-10
third quarter, and gave a lot of credit to his
mid-court.
“I think our main mid-court combination of
Casey Black, Erin Scheepens and Jodie Rich-
Nourse was exceptional,” he said.
“Their work-rate, and the quality of ball
they were providing each other was paramount
to us building that lead.
“You could see fatigue starting to set in at
times because it was a grind of a game, but the