Swan South Region Match Report
25th September 2011
 
FINAL SCORE
Swan 49 v 41 Dreams 2
 
Player of the Match – Sharon McHale
 
Starting seven and combinations used during the game were:
 
GS - Sharon
GA - Summer
WA - Robyn T (1, 4) Robynn A (2,3
C - Alice (1,3,4) Robyn T (2)
WD - Stacey (1,2,4) Robyn T (3)
GD - Lorraine
GK – Becky Leigh
 
Kristy Bennett and Jade Traynor were unavailable for this match.
For our first home match we had lots of supporters who all really encouraged and motivated the team from the side line. Thank you to everyone who came to support!
 
First Quarter 
Swan started the match quite hesitantly. Players were solid, but for the first few minutes it took the girls a while to get into their own game. Dreams were putting up a fight and it was the first few minutes that allowed them to get the extra goals.
First Quarter Score 12-14 (Dreams 2)
 
Second Quarter
In the second quarter the Swan girls went out hard, aiming to keep the C and WA from driving to the circle edge, which Stacey ensured was hard for Dreams to do throughout her game. Sharon kept strong in the circle with the defenders focusing on trying to stop Summer running into the circle. Sharon’s holds and rebounds were strong and assertive, giving ‘’The Robyn’s’’ a clear pathway for the ball when passing in.
Half Time Score 25-24 (Swan)
 
Third Quarter
Becky Leigh had a 1 minute crash coaching course with Jo at half time, focusing on body movement around the player to ensure they could not hold front, this is what changed the game. Becky immediately put this into her game and was deflecting balls coming into the circle to her defensive team. Turnovers were made and the Dream shooter couldn’t work out how to change her game to now beat Becky.  With fresh legs from Alice in at Centre, holding back the Dreams C, Swan took a 5 goal lead.
Third Quarter Score 37-32 (Swan)
 
Fourth Quarter
Excellent defensive work in the circle with Lorraine stopping the GA from making her drives and Becky blocking balls coming into the circle, enabled Swan to get the ball out of our defensive third and quickly down the court. Again our fitness levels were tested to the max, with 2 players less from our squad meaning we had fewer options and had to work harder for longer in this game. A variety of movements into and around the circle from the attacking team meant the Dreams defence were kept on their toes again, and this fantastic combination through from defence to attack lead us to a win!
Final Score 49-41 (Swan)
 
A fantastic win over a difficult team, with a superb team effort from all players involved! Well done again Ladies!

 

17th September 2011
Southampton League
Swan White v Applemore Pippins
 
Today we played Applemore Pippins. We drew against them 26 all. Firstly, the best thing we did throughout the game was the backline passes. We didn’t lose one so they worked really well. GK made some excellent decisions and WD helped a lot. The centre passes worked out well too. We didn’t lose any and everyone knew what they were doing! Also the shooters really pulled through at the end shooting at least 4 more than the other team in the last few minutes. The team all got off to a good start but by the 3rd quarter we were all worn out. Amazingly we all played our best in the last quarter despite being tired. Unfortunately we had a player injured and had to swap the positions around for the last half of the game. Gwen did a fantastic job and made sure we still had a strong team even if we had a player who couldn’t play in their normal position. Overall, the team pulled through and all gelled together to make a very strong team.

18th September
Swan South Region Match Report
 
FINAL SCORE
Swan SR - 54
Tongham - 17
 
Player of the Match - Summer Cusack
 
Trying to choose our starting seven was a challenge for our first match, the whole squad had been training so well together, so we had a number of options.
 
Starting seven and combinations used throughout the game were:
 
GS - Sharon (whole game)
GA - Summer (whole game)
WA - Robyn T (3 quarters) Alice (last)
C - Alice - Jade - Alice - Jade
WD - Lorraine (half) Stacey (half)
GD - Kristy (half) Jade (third quarter) Lorraine (last)
GK - Becky (whole game)
 
Robynn Alner was selected to play but due to travel problems she did not make the venue before the start of the match and therefore was not allowed to play. Robynn gave feedback, supported  throughout and kept stats.
Claire Marks was primary carer, and Peter Bennett umpired, Gwen Silvester was scorer, Jo Bull Squad Coach and Pete Carter Club Coach.
 
First Half
All players started out determined and focused, pressuring the pass from the start and working on what we had been practicing at training, namely movement and change of direction, ball placement, centre passes, and decision making. After a few minutes to settle nerves, all were looking good.
 
It took 9 minutes for Tongham to score their first goal. With the Defence snapping up rebounds and getting the ball out of the circle far quicker than it got in.
 
Sharon had been working on holding front with Jo during warm up and we aimed for all feeds into the circle to come from circle edge and for them to be flat. Summer was making some fab runs into the circle, with Sharon reading the runs and leading her keeper out of the circle. Balls into the circle continuously got better from Alice, Jade, and Robyn in terms of placement and timing. High lofted balls were kept to a minimum.
 
Changes were made at quarter times and the half time score was 24-7.
 
Defence were doing an amazing job, as suggested by the score. Becky and Kristy had made numerous rebounds and continued to get the ball out of the circle effortlessly. Back line passes throughout worked extremely well, and in the second half the defence were bringing the ball out of the defending third and down the court seamlessly, attack only needing to get involved at the last minute and on very few occasions.
 
Going into the last quarter the score was 34-14, we gave ourselves the challenge of reaching 50 goals. Intensity maintained high throughout, and with 7 minutes to go Swan were 8 goals away from 50 and Tongham were yet to score. Fitness levels of girls on court were being challenged but all players dug deep, and fresh legs coming on gave others the motivation needed to continue.
 
For our first game of the season it was a fantastic effort by all involved, on and off of the court.  A fab squad performance leaving all girls excited and raring to go for the rest of the season and the next match.
 
Good Luck for the season ladies, let's continue as we've started.