THE older generation of Warrnambool and District Football Netball League (WDFNL) netballers outsmarted their wide-eyed younger counterparts in the opening round of Western Regional State League last night.
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WDFNL Yellow gave the league’s under 21 outfit, WDFNL White, a lesson in how to play a steady and consistent game.
While White rivalled its more senior Yellow opponents in energy, it continually hit traffic in the goal third.
Yellow, on the other hand, had no such problems and sailed away with the 60-30 win.
“We probably had a bit more size and a bit more experience,” victorious Yellow coach Raewyn Poumako said.
“But I thought they (White) did a good job. They were very intense.”
The battle of the match was between Yellow centre Anna Archie and White centre Kristy Ludeman.
With very similar approaches to the game, the midcourters dictated play at both ends and were reliable options at any moment.
Yellow skipped to a 16-4 advantage at quarter-time.
The strength of shooter Katie Burt and swiftness of goal attack Rhiannon Davis combined perfectly for Yellow in the second term and created headaches for athletic White defenders Melissa Burt and Tanaya Harradine.
“We played best when we were making strong leads at the ball,” Poumako said.
“We kept our intensity and concentration up for the full 15 minutes.”
Both sides made changes at half-time as Yellow led 32-12.
Yellow’s Danielle McInerney switched from wing attack to goal attack for the second half, Claire Wines moved to goal defence, Faye Clarke to wing attack and Rachel Mungean to wing defence.
For White, Rachel Jaynes went into wing attack and Jodie Hayes wing defence.
Despite the player shuffles, the momentum remained the same.
Yellow was composed and timed its flashes of genius with precision, while White played frantically and could not capitalise off turnovers.
The margin ballooned to 47-20 at three-quarter time.
McInerney and Burt tried to outdo each other in the lightning-quick catch-and-release department in the fourth term.
At the other end of the court, White goalers Stephanie Jamieson and Georgia Martin shot beautifully from long range.
“We still need to build as a team and familiarise ourselves with each other,” Poumako said after the 30-goal win.
“Getting the win was very important and it will boost our confidence.
“We’re taking this tournament seriously and we want to do as well as we can.”
