HARVEY Brunswick Leschenault cemented their position as the South West Netball Football League club to be reckoned with this season, beating all three Busselton Magpies teams in hard fought contests at the Geographe Leisure Centre on Saturday in round six of the competition.
The Magpies Open team came to court with a positive outlook despite missing some key players, including three tall defenders.
The contest played out ferociously with Kate Duncan and Emma Borinelli pushing hard in goals to overcome the sticky fingered HBL defenders, and Jess Burge putting in overtime to try to contain the deadly accurate and physically imposing HBL shooter.
The Magpies pulled out in front by the seven minute mark, but the swift HBL centre court helped peg that back to leave the Magpies trailing by two goals at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw an early surge by HBL with their devastating speed insuring that any soft throw or slow moving Magpie was punished by an intercept.
Trailing by eight goals, the Magpies valiantly fought back to within two by tightening up their midcourt play and working hard to hold front position.
Four goals down heading into the third quarter, both teams scored successive quick, no nonsense goals, however HBL turned on the burners, punishing the Magpie’s every error and pulling away to a nine goal lead.
Despite every effort in the final quarter, the Magpies could not find their mojo, succumbing at the final whistle 60 to 43.
The Reserves team’s slow start allowed HBL to get a 10 goal lead, but a strong and determined effort by the whole team saw the lead cut back to only three goals by the end of the first half.
Centre court players Taylah McKay, Crystal-Lee Dragicevich and Bianca Madrigal helped shooters Jade Craigie and Ehlana Lester to convert much needed goals.
Consistent defensive work by Laura Hallet, Claire Jennings and Monique Baker made HBL work hard for each shot but ultimately Busselton went down by nine goals, the final score HBL 43 to Magpies 34.
In the Under 18s game good hands over ball pressure by Wing Attack Lauren Brandis and feeding into the circle by first and second quarter Centre’s Phoebe Pethybridge and Hannah Taylor helped Goal Shooter Sunny Manners get in close to goal while accurate shooting by Goal Attack Mia Pethybridge from mid range kept them within reach of HBL’s score.
The girls fought hard to the end of the game but unfortunately lost, with a final score of 46 to 29.
The next round is against Carey Park at Leschenault Leisure Centre on May 29.
