Sport
5 September, 2022
Lions beat Tigers with six-goal victory
HARCOURT (41) def by LEXTON (47) Lexton will charge into a preliminary final meeting with Carisbrook, thanks to a 13-goal to six final quarter propelling the Tigers to a six-goal victory over Harcourt on Saturday after-noon. Coming into the game, it...
HARCOURT (41) def by LEXTON (47)
Lexton will charge into a preliminary final meeting with Carisbrook, thanks to a 13-goal to six final quarter propelling the Tigers to a six-goal victory over Harcourt on Saturday after-noon.
Coming into the game, it looked set to be an even battle between the fourth-placed Lions and the fifth-placed Tigers, with both teams separated by just percentage at the end of the home and away season.
For three quarters, that’s exactly how it played out. Just one goal separated the two teams at all three breaks, with Harcourt holding the lead on all three occasions.
The Lions got off to a good start, leading 14-13 at quarter time, with Kate Blake getting her goalshooting touch early, shooting 10 goals in the opening stanza.
Harcourt probably enjoyed the better of the second quarter, however, despite shooting on seven more occasions than the Tigers, they were unable to win the quarter, with both teams scoring 11 goals apiece. Still, the Lions were able to hold the lead, with a 25-24 advantage.
Things really tightened up in the third quarter with the game on the line. Both teams had 17 shots, with both teams also scoring 10 goals.
Blake was shooting well, while Rachel Phelan, at the other end of the court, was enjoying a very efficient afternoon, having shot 19 goals from 21 shots and making the most of her opportunities.
The Lions maintained their one-goal lead going into the final change, leading 35-34.
In the last quarter, however, it was all Lexton, taking control of the game thanks to Phelan, while Leesa Donhardt was getting opportunities at will. They took control in the mid-court and were able to put up 20 shots to the Lions’ 14, converting 13 of their opportunities, while the Lions converted six.
In the end, it meant Lexton were able to progress with a 47-41 win, with the Lions departing in straight sets.
The Lions could consider themselves desperately unlucky not to win either of their finals games in 2022, losing both their games narrowly, and will now look to rebound in 2023.
The result also meant that the Tigers — across both A grade netball and senior football, were the only team to make it to the preliminary final via the elimination final.
Lexton coach Sarah Fisher was very pleased with the outcome, and is looking forward to the challenge of playing Carisbrook, desperate to redeem themselves after their round nine meeting earlier in the season, which the Redbacks won by 24 goals.
“I’m looking forward to Carisbrook. Especially after the last quarter today — the girls just pulled it out. We’ll go back to training, reset, look at the game we played against Carisbrook. Our goal attack, Leesa Donhardt, didn’t play that game. The game against the Redbacks earlier in the season was one of our worst games of the season, so we want to redeem ourselves, and we’re ready for next week,” she said.
Fisher said some adjustments that needed to be made paid off in the second half as they were able to overrun the Lions when it mattered most.
“Our defence was a bit lost in the first half, but then we worked out what we needed to do to get the ball to our attackers. Rach (Phelan) shot incredibly well in that last quarter, she held her nerve and it didn’t get the best of her. Really proud of them all,” she said.
Fisher praised the work of her mid-court, particularly Kimberley Roberts and Julia Parkin, which, she says, allows both Donhardt and Phelan to be able to get creative with their angles and also generate good goal-scoring opportunities.
“They work the angles well, Leesa and Rach. With Kimberley and Julia out the front directing play, you wouldn’t want the ball in anyone else’s hands. They’re smart with the play,” she said.
For Fisher, it was easy to pinpoint what helped the Tigers got over the line.
“The atmosphere and the crowd, we believe, lifted us in the final quarter, and we can’t wait for next week,” she said.
“We have the belief that we can wear the medals around our necks.”