KOOWEERUP Netball Club’s Dgrade team fought hard against a strong Neerim Neerim South going down by 10 goals in round three on Saturday.
Windy conditions in the first quarter played havoc with passes from both sides.
Steady play saw Neerim Neerim South convert turnovers and solid defence by Jensey Thompson backed up by Alicia Radings wasn’t enough and it led at the change 5 1.
The windy conditions persisted and both sides struggled to score the elusive goals. Determined play by the Kooweerup saw it gain a few goals to shorten the lead to 7 5.
Neerim South outplayed Kooweerup across the court holding it back and scoring only one goal.
In the last quarter Jade Williams came on in the centre and strong passes by her and Amanda Crowley enabled goalers Jacqui Adamson and Erin Pellissier to score evenly with Neerim, six goals apiece.
Scores: Neerim Neerim South 22 d Kooweerup 12.
E GRADE
Jade Williams made good use of the centre breaks giving Shanae Ingram and Sam Belsham plenty of scoring opportunities.
The defence end of Mariah Bell and Kassie Male worked well as Neerim continued to apply plenty of pressure.
Kooweerup on the change led 103.
Megan Bugg and Emily Harrison combined well and Steph Kelly continued to put pressure on the Neerim Neerim South attackers and at the break led 17 – 8.
Megan Bugg continued with some good clearances out of the centre court giving Laura DeHommel plenty of scoring opportunities and at the end of the quarter Kooweerup led 22 11.
Shanae Ingram and Sam Belsham combined well in the last quarter to get some quick goals on the board. Solid defence by Steph Kelly and Jade Williams saw Kooweerup continue on to an easy win.
Scores: Kooweerup 31 d Neerim Neerim South 17.
F GRADE
During the first five minutes Kooweerup kept possession of the ball, but failed to convert. Jess Chapman and Sarah Cammarano got their eye in and ended the quarter 41.
Strong work by Cassie Belsham and Marie Osborne saw Kooweerup score five quick goals, even though Neerim continued attacking well and at halftime led 131.
Chelsea Ingram, starting in centre for her first game, saw her instrumental in Kooweerup scoring some quick goals. Ellie Cammarano and Lauren Harrison worked hard in defence, backed up solidly by Brooke Radings put some hard pressure on Neerim and ended the quarter 229.
Rachael Hawkins put her height to good use the last quarter and Jess Chapman shot some nice goals.
Jessi Duff played well and won the ‘Giggling Girt’ award.
Scores: Kooweerup 30 d Neerim Neerim South 11.
