Sport
15 May, 2023
Natte come back to beat Avoca
NATTE BEALIBA (51) def AVOCA (45) It will take some beating to knock this off as the game of the year in A grade netball. Natte Bealiba weathered a furious first half storm from Avoca, before coming all the way back to record a six-goal win in...
NATTE BEALIBA (51) def AVOCA (45)
It will take some beating to knock this off as the game of the year in A grade netball.
Natte Bealiba weathered a furious first half storm from Avoca, before coming all the way back to record a six-goal win in a terrific game of momentum.
Despite being stricken by COVID during the week, Avoca still fielded a strong squad on the court, and were extremely impressive in the early stages, scoring 20 goals to nine in the opening quarter to take an 11-goal lead into the first break.
Natte hit back in the second quarter, scoring 11 goals to six to reduce the margin to six goals at the main break.
The third quarter was a beauty. Avoca tried to break clear again, but the Swans continued to stick with the Bulldogs. In the end, Avoca scored 12 goals, but the Swans added 15 to reduce the margin to three goals at the final change.
In a thrilling final term, Natte added 16 goals, while the Bulldogs scored seven as the Swans scored a memorable six-goal win.
It was Avoca’s first home-and-away loss since the final round of the 2018 season, but it was a brave fight given the changes that needed to be made.
Natte playing-coach Emma Ryan scored 45 goals to lead the Swans’ charge, while for Avoca, Maddy Egan scored 23 times, with Chantelle Wardlaw adding 22.
Ryan said to win in a game that was such high-quality was a testament to the mindset of her Natte Bealiba team.
“It was a really tight game the whole time. We were trailing most of the game, but we kept the mindset of knowing we were strong enough to win, and kept it positive. We changed a couple of things in terms of what we were doing, but the girls were amazing, and credit to them. It’s so good to see we can come from behind and have that resilience to win,” she said.
“It was an awesome game, and a great game for those who watched, it was a cracker.”
Ryan said the changes were defensively-minded, after Avoca’s 20-goal opening stand threatened to take the game away from the Swans.
“We made a few defensive changes after the first quarter, which enabled a bit more experience on the court. We also needed to be more patient in attack and waited for the opportunities to open up. When we did that, it changed the game, rather than forcing errors. But defensively, we also stepped up, so it gave us many more opportunities,” she said.
“The girls adapted really well to the instructions we gave them at quarter time and half time, and we kept pushing on.
“We’ve been working really hard at training to put in our structures offensively and defensively. We have a really young group of girls who want to learn and do well, so it makes my job a lot easier when I have girls who put in for one another.
“It’s a great group who love playing together, and enjoy playing netball. We’re smiling and playing positive and it shows in our wins and our scores.
“The transition from defence into attack is done at blistering speed and it’s hard to stop. It’s a huge part of our game, to get it down quickly before the other team sets up, which I see as a key part of our game plan.”
Natte now move on to a clash with Newstead next week, but as Ryan explains, she’s not prepared to take any opponent lightly, despite the Swans’ big start to their premiership defence.
“It’s a positive thing for us so early in the season, with a few different players coming in, it’s good to see that we’ve overcome some really good teams,” she said.
“I’ve been in the situation in the past with other teams where we have tight games, but we don’t get the win in the end, so it’s been refreshing to have a group of girls who will not give up and want a win. We’ll go out there and look to stamp our authority now.
“As a newcomer into the league, I don’t have a lot of knowledge for the other teams, which I see as a good thing — we don’t take anyone lightly. We stick to what we do, rather than what other teams are doing.”