Advertisment

Sport

29 August, 2022

Carisbrook stun with 14-goal win over Natte Bealiba

NATTE BEALIBA (36) def by CARISBROOK (50) For many who thought that this year’s A grade netball premiership was a race in two between Avoca and Natte Bealiba — think again. Carisbrook stunned the Swans on Saturday afternoon, putting together...

By Michael Thompson

Natte Bealiba’s Melissa Oliver takes a strong grab under the ring despite the efforts of Carisbrook’s Elise Mottram.
Natte Bealiba’s Melissa Oliver takes a strong grab under the ring despite the efforts of Carisbrook’s Elise Mottram.

NATTE BEALIBA (36) def by CARISBROOK (50)

For many who thought that this year’s A grade netball premiership was a race in two between Avoca and Natte Bealiba — think again.

Carisbrook stunned the Swans on Saturday afternoon, putting together a complete performance that not only yielded a preliminary final berth and a week off, it also saw them restrict Natte to their lowest score of the 2022 season.

It was a second-half burst which saw the Redbacks overturn a one-goal half-time deficit, holding the Swans to just 14 goals.

The first quarter was a tightly contested affair. While the Swans perhaps had the better of play, generating 16 opportunities, they were able to convert only 10, with good defensive pressure on Swans’ goal shooter Melissa Oliver ensuring that the Redbacks were able to stay in the game. In contrast to the Swans’ relative struggle in front of goal, the Redbacks went at 100 percent for the quarter, converting all their chances as they took a narrow one-goal lead into the first change.

The Swans enjoyed their best passage in the second quarter, scoring 12 goals to 10 as they were able to take the lead going into the long break, with Oliver adding nine goals to take her tally to 18.

However, the second half well and truly belonged to the Redbacks, coming out with a determined attitude and successfully played the game on their terms. They were able to score 15 goals for the quarter, while restricting the Swans to nine goals, which allowed them to take a 36-31 lead at the final break.

Their last quarter was the most impressive of the day, scoring 14 goals to five to turn a close game into a day of celebration for the Redbacks as they went on to win 50-36.

Andrea Schafer scored 33 goals in the Redbacks’ win, while Oliver finished with 25 of the Swans’ 36 goals.

Carisbrook coach Amelia Jarvis was thrilled with how the game played out, adding that it was the B graders’ win over Avoca that set the tone for their performance.

“I’m really proud of how all the girls played yesterday, including the B graders. They started the day off really well with their intensity and it replicated itself in the A grade. It put the game on our terms, which was good to see,” she said.

“We held the ball up quite well through our defensive zone that we play, and I was really impressed to see everything that we’ve been working on throughout the season come together during the game. I’m lost for words. I couldn’t be prouder of how we played yesterday.”

Jarvis added that there was much more than the prospect of winning their first premiership since 1999 that is motivating them.

“We had Lauren Jones and Sherriden Byrne say a few words to us at training a few weeks ago as they were the only girls currently in our squad that played in that 1999 grand final, which lit the fire in our bellies. If we can contest the way we did yesterday, we’ll put ourselves in a position to replicate that and bring that flag home,” she said.

“We had the added drive as we lost two important parts of our side, in Brogahn Richards, she went down in our last game of the season, and Janae Lanfranchi, who went down at training a few weeks ago. So instead of playing netball just for the club, we also play for their passion and drive, which is instilled in all of us on the court.”

For Jarvis, the next two weeks is a simple process ahead of the prospect of playing the winner of the Harcourt/Lexton game.

“We’ll go about the next two weeks the same way as all season. We are a big believer in not changing anything at all. This week we will still train hard on the Thursday, while we’ll have a boxing session for us to keep that high intensity in as well. We’ll also rest and recover, we had a few sore bodies, then we’ll look forward to playing either Harcourt or Lexton,” she said.

For the Swans, they’ll now look to rebound against Maldon on Sunday afternoon.

Carisbrook’s Laura Hurse passes down-court with purpose.
Natte Bealiba’s Melissa Oliver takes a strong grab under the ring despite the efforts of Carisbrook’s Elise Mottram.
Advertisment

Most Popular