Premiership favourites Lake Boga maintained their unbeaten start to 2024 with a commanding 20-goal win over Tyntynder on the weekend.
After a competitive first half, the Magpies kicked clear after the main break, shooting 33 goals in the second half to run away 57-37 winners.
While Lake Boga didn’t have the game played solely on their own terms, netball operations manager and A grade assistant coach Sheridan Harrop was pleased with her team’s ability to contend with Tyntynder’s relentless pressure.
“They (Tyntynder) challenged us in the first half, which was good because we need a bit of challenge for our girls, but once we settled in I felt we played our best netball,” Harrop said.
“Our girls were a little more accurate in the second half, but the pressure across the court from both sides had an impact. It challenged everyone right up to the last whistle.
“When you watched the game, it probably didn’t feel like the score that it was in the end because that intensity was still there right to the end and the pressure from the Tyntynder defenders was there. They made our girls work for everything.
“Their goalies were really tough, but our defenders Jemma (Meehan) and Emma (Peacock) worked really well together in the ring and we were able to turn over a few balls there.
“Our goalies were challenged by their defenders also, but our midcourt worked really well at getting the ball into the ring and that was a bit of a difference.”
Katie Carmichael came into the Magpies line-up for her match of the season and continued her dominant partnership with sister Sarah Hepburn, with the latter dominating the contest with a game high 43 goals.
Carmichael was well served by Lake Boga wing attack Lily Brennan, while Emma Peacock was also instrumental in thwarting many of Tyntynder’s attacking advances.
While Hepburn was dominant, her opponent Bridgette King was a clear best on court for Tyntynder, with Bulldogs coach Kelsey Rowe pleased with her team’s ability to compete with the competition yardstick for three quarters.
“Our girls displayed three really quality quarters of netball and we were in the game, but unfortunately we didn’t play very well in the last quarter which allowed them (Lake Boga) to blow out the lead,” Rowe said.
“It was a very disappointing end to our game, but we were really pleased with our efforts early against a very good side, we just need to focus on playing for the full 60 minutes.”
Jackie Rivett was another strong contributor for Tyntynder, filling in at wing defence in the absence of Monica Ellis, while Rowe was the Bulldogs leading goal scorer with 22.
Final Whistle
Lake Boga 57
Tyntynder 37
