MATCH: Aztec 2 v Generations
DATE: Saturday 5/5/12 RESULT: 36 - 47 Generations
TEAM:
Alison White, Ariana Page, Chelsea Bilton, Josephine Otene, Luana Beazley-Tango, Ngamira Warren, Nicola O’Malley, Sara Lendrum, Sarah Inkster, Shaiann Hemi, Terri Anne Paea, Tracey Spence
COACH: Wendy Bremner MANAGER: Lucy Bremner
STARTING LINE UP:
O’Malley GS, Bilton GA, Page WA, Paea C, Lendrum WD, Warren GD Beazley-Tango GK.
BENCH:
Inkster, Hemi, Otene, White, Spence (injured)
A beautiful Autumn afternoon for the 2nd game of the president’s round today at 2pm at PNC. Aztec failed to fire from the start and despite good possession, turned it over before it could get to the shooters who struggled to present a target for the feeders. Paea called injury time after 7 centre passes which gave coach Bremner the opportunity to make some changes. Inkster came on at GS, White at C and Paea moved to WA. Generations scored the next 4 goals before Aztec settled into a rhythm and got into the game. Beazley-Tango achieved 2 rebounds and 2 intercepts and we managed to claw back the lead from 5 to 2 by the end of the first quarter.
First quarter score: 9 - 11 to Generations
Inkster stayed at GS, Otene came on at GA, Bilton moved to the defensive end at GD with Beazley-Tango GK, Page came back on at WA, White stayed at C, Hemi came on at WD. Generations again came out strong to start the second quarter making the most of the ball they had and scoring 5 goals to our 2 in the first 7 passes. Bilton rolled her ankle and tearfully left the court replaced by Beazley-Tango who moved out to GD and Warren came back on at GK. Lots of whistle at both ends of the court and the physicality of the match intensified. Aztec was still in the game, but the lead had increased to 4 at half time.
1/2 time score: 17 - 21 to Generations.
Otene and Inkster swapped bibs everyone else stayed how they had ended the second quarter. Another strong start by Generations who had Aztec chasing as we failed to score from our centre passes. The shooters struggled for accuracy but gained rebounds. White, Hemi and Beazley-Tango gained some good ball with intercepts, however we squandered the possession so gallantly won and made handling errors we couldn’t afford. We failed to use space and there was obvious panic as we let the game slip through our fingers. Generations had pulled ahead by 10 goals when Page injured her finger. Paea came on at WA. The last portion of this 3rd quarter was more closely contested, but we failed to break their centre passes and had to work hard to score from ours. Generations led by 11 going into the final quarter.
Third quarter score: 25 - 36 to Generations.
Paea stayed at WA and Lendrum came on WD. Inkster improved her accuracy and the defenders were hunting. Lendrum bought a feeling of calm to the mid-court and we dominated the first few minutes of this quarter scoring 5 goals to Generations 1 when Generations called injury time. The momentum slowed and it was goal for goal from the next 6 centre passes with the gap reduced to 7. Lendrum and Warren made 3 intercepts a piece and Beazley-Tango was impressive gaining possession as the ball came into the shooters in the circle 5 times. Generations then suddenly got back into this quarter with a decisive run of play scoring 6 goals in a row and cancelling out the gain Aztec had achieved. Each held their own centre pass in the final stages of the match but Generations had done enough in the first 3 quarters to finish with a convincing margin of 11 at the final whistle.
It was a very physical encounter and difficult match to watch from the sideline with inconsistency throughout and reactive netball. However Aztec had some strong periods of play that we can build on and there are some good learning opportunities for us. (Good news Bilton’s ankle injury is a sprain and she should be okay with lots of rest over the next 7 days).