The Busselton Magpies played at home against the Augusta Margaret River Hawks at the Geographe Leisure Centre with all three teams coming away with convincing wins.
In the 18s side the Hawks put up a fight with their goal defence Jaz Neilson making the Magpies pay for any errant passes, but it wasn’t long before the Magpies adjusted with their feed into Mia Pethybridge and Matilda Cann and took the quarter 15-7.
In the second quarter, the Magpies worked on their transition out of defence and with some good vision down court Phoebe Pethybridge kicked the attack into gear along with Jaymee Dahlenberg at centre and Ivy Golding at wing defence.
In the third quarter, the Magpies found another gear and stepped it up with defensive pressure over the whole court as they created opportunities.
Hannah Taylor and Pethybridge executed some well timed feeds into the goalies.
Pethybridge and Cann didn’t disappoint putting away 22 goals.
Up the other end of the court Teniele Smith goal defence, Hannah Bowden goal keeper and Chantelle Sutherland at wing defence took the intercepts and rebounds and put the pressure on to force the error as they kept the Hawks to a mere two goals.
Going into the final quarter coach Tash O’Neill asked for the team to maintain that intensity and the team worked hard to produce another 22-goal quarter with the final score 75-20.
Busselton Magpies League team overcame a slow start and a feisty challenge from the AMR Hawks to score a comfortable win.
The score was in Hawks’s favour for much of the first quarter as Busselton failed to capitalise on their possessions.
However, they nudged ahead to finish the quarter two up, through the steady heads of Maia Bratten and Emma Borinelli.
Called upon to focus on reducing unforced errors, the Magpies came out on a mission in the second quarter and piled on 20 goals for the quarter.
Yas Riley consistently picked up loose ball in the defensive circle and had an interesting battle with young goal scorer Jess Whitehead who smiled her way through some impressive long shots.
The half-time score was 36-24.
Despite Magpies pulling away in terms of score, the AMR defenders were stoic and disciplined, in particular the efforts of athletic Goal Keeper Jaz Neilsen who continually challenged her more seasoned opposition.
The final result of 72-35 in Busselton’s favour belied the well contested and spirited encounter between these two sides.
Magpie cafe player of the day award went to the versatile Tenieka Handley who maintains consistent form and positive team spirit.
Magpies Reserves did not underestimate the young mobile Hawks side and with some key players away turned on the versatility for a confident win.
Shooter for the 18s team Sundara Manners relished the step up, holding firm under the post to sink a 15-7 first term on the fast ball movement from centre Meg Bolton and goal attack Beth Beckett.
The second term was a defenders rally between Hawks GD Coby Field and Magpies Shukia Riley and WD Ash Farmer who fired up the intercepts and deflections off the full court defensive efforts; Magpies 25-15 at the half-time break.
Quick to adjust to position changes, Magpies blew out the third to 43-22 with Claire Garnaut swung into GD limiting Hawks shooter Kelli Whitehead.
Yas Riley moved into goals for the Magpies.
Undaunted, Hawks dug in and matched every play in the last term, Hawks Dee Teddy showing her experience in GD to pressure Manners.
The Magpies prevailed with a 58-35 scoreline.
Next week the Reserves and League teams have a well deserved rest with bye rounds, while the 15s and 18s travel to Bridgetown.
It’s a top of the table clash in 18s with the Magpies looking to knock the Ravens out of top position and 15s aim to keep their position on top of the ladder.
