Netball - News and Results
VICTORIAN FURY DEFEATS AIS 62 - 42
By Greg Hutt
1st September 2008
The Victoria Fury have inflicted a comprehensive twenty goal defeat on the AIS at the Frank Stewart Training Hall on Saturday night.
With both sides boasting excellent height and power up front, the match was always going to be decided on passing accuracy and shot execution and the Fury won this battle.
Starting the match full of running, the AIS raced to a 5-2 lead on the back of some excellent service to goal shooter Jasmine Keene and the signs were ominous early for the visitors. A superior passing game was keeping the hosts in front, but as the quarter went on, the confidence of the Fury lifted and they snatched the momentum. Kathleen Knott was unstoppable under the post and suddenly the Fury had a 14-12 quarter-time advantage.
Both teams came out for the second period looking to assert their authority on the game but it was the Victorian side that succeeded. Knott was dominant on the back of some great work from Chelsea Nash and Ashlee Howard and the score soon stretched out to a comfortable 27-19. The home side was gallantly sticking with their opposition however vital errors were creeping in and the score was racking up against them. At the half-time break, it was the Fury by 36-20.
The Fury were maintaining the rage in the final quarter, facing a twenty goal deficit, to their credit the AIS girls continued to put their bodies on the line. Their bravery wasn’t enough to get them back within range though, the final score being 62-42 to a well-drilled Fury outfit.
AIS coach Simone McKinnis applauded her side’s endurance but also paid tribute to the opposition.
"I think we fought it out to the end, which I think was important but obviously we played a good team tonight," she said.
Next up for Victoria is a clash against the Canberra Darters, whilst McKinnis is confident of a change of fortunes against Tasmania.
"We’ve got Tasmania and that’s the thing we need to get up for that. I think the girls will turn it around."
AIS DEFEATS TASMANIA 46 - 32
By Greg Hutt
1st September 2008
The Australian Institute of Sport has bounced back from their heavy loss to the Victorian Fury by defeating Tasmania 46-32 at Frank Stewart Training Hall yesterday.
Determined to make amends for wasting a great start against the Fury on Saturday night, the AIS again began well but this time they didn’t let the lead slip. From the outset the home side looked more relaxed and dominated proceedings to establish a comfortable 13-7 lead. Tasmania were looking for redemption themselves after a disappointing effort the night before and they refused to allow the score to blow out beyond six goals. With the AIS holding a relatively slim 14-9 advantage at quarter time, it was still anyone’s game.
After a topsy-turvy opening period, the AIS soon got into their rhythm early in the second, racing away to an 18-12 lead before Tasmania again regained their composure. As the scores tightened up, the intensity of the game stepped up another notch and the visitors seemed to be just lacking the polish to take control. A three goal lead at half time to the Institute of Sport was a true indicator of how evenly matched the two sides were.
With the home fans well and truly behind them, the AIS girls increased the intensity in the fourth quarter, with Pitman’s height and agility proving too much to handle for the Tasmania defenders. As the score reached 42-32, the clock became the visitors’ worst enemy. Jasmine Keene and Pitman united to seal the match with an unstoppable four goal run and fourteen was the final margin.
AIS will next face the Canberra Darters at the Subway ACT Netball Centre on Saturday 6th September.
Heath Francis