Contours Matrics remain undefeated after win over Royal Cougars

Contours Matrics have continued their winning ways after defeating the Royal Cougars by 14 goals in round 3 of the Subway Cup.

A dominant second quarter from the Matrics was where the game was won, after two injuries unsettled the Cougars, who refused to surrender.

The Matrics used the ball from the opening whistle, GS Cody Lange opening the scoring for the match. Good defence from Cougars GK Sarah Klau in the circle and composed passing from WA Sarah Carver and C Sammy Nutt into the circle gave them a 2 goal lead. Matrics started to gain momentum mid-way through the quarter taking the lead but defensive penalties allowed the Cougars to draw back to 14-14 at the first break. 

Matrics then took advantage of an unsettled Cougars side in the second quarter. Klau went off in the first quarter after going over on her ankle heavily. Cougars also lost GA Laura Marslen to a serious ankle injury forcing changes to the Cougars mid-court.

Matrics freed up space for Lange in the circle who was dominant in one-on-one contests. Increased pressure across the court made it hard for Cougars ball to flow. Better discipline from Matrics GD Sarah Kennedy and GK Bridget Bayer gave fewer opportunities to the Cougars shooters. The half time score opening out to 35-24 in Matrics favour.

The third quarter was well fought through the mid-court with Cougars looking to transition quickly giving Matrics no time to set in defence. This tactic worked well with Nutt using her court speed well and Leigh Waddington at WA shifting the ball quickly. However, the Matrics defence kept the Cougars in check as WD Heather Wright and C Kyra Brown combined well to slow the ball down. Heading into the final quarter the scores were 49-39 Matrics.

Matrics began the final quarter well and looked as though they were heading for a big win with the lead going out to 13. The teams went goal for goal mid-way through the quarter with the Cougars steadying and taking advantage of penalties in their attacking circle. Good rebounding from Bayer helped Matrics extend their lead late in the match with the Matrics shooters providing better targets for Brown and WA Sheree Wingard, the final score 66-52 Matrics.

Matrics coach Jacqui Illman saying her team played their best Netball during the second quarter in an up and down match.

“The first quarter I thought was really closely fought, I thought we played our best Netball in the second quarter and it was very up and down after that.”

“I thought we moved the ball really well in the second quarter, our defensive pressure on them was good and most times we got those basic things right. It certainly wasn’t for the whole match though.”

Cougars coach Scott Waddington was happy with the overall team performance noting that injuries unsettled the line up.

“Pretty happy with the overall team performance, unfortunately with two injuries during the course of the game it did unsettle our line-up. That really cost us.”

Waddington also saying that the second quarter was a huge turning point in the match.

“They played really well. I thought we lost our way and I’m pretty sure they scored 7 goals to our 1 in a five minute period and we lost our composure out on court.”

In the other games played, Spring Gully Newton Jaguars got home over Woods Panthers in another close match 44-41, while Health and Life Phoenix defeated Garville 52-26. ETSA Contax had the round 3 bye.

Quarter-by-Quarter:

Q1:    Mat   14 – 14   Cou

Q2:    Mat   35 – 24   Cou

Q3:    Mat   49 – 39   Cou

Q4:    Mat   66 – 52   Cou

Shooting Percentages:

Matrics     (80.5%)

C. Lange:     26/29   (89.7%)

L. Packard:    31/40   (77.5%)

S. Hentschel:    9/13   (69.2%)

Cougars     (76.5%)

J. Nixon:    27/34   (79.4%)

L. Marslen:    15/19   (73.7%)

S. Carver:    10/15   (66.6%)

Penrith Panthers leading the race of NRL darkhorses

Having been one of the favourite teams to win the 2012 NRL wooden spoon, the early expectations of the Penrith Panthers should be on the rise.

The competition is only four rounds old and the Panthers haven't really set the competition on fire so far with 2 wins and 2 losses. Their wins have been against teams that have started slowly but Penrith have showed a lot of potential in all their matches so far.

Their win against the Sydney Roosters was won off the back of a very impressive defensive effort. Keeping a team like the Roosters scoreless is no easy feat but the Panthers showed how well they can defend through good organisation and discipline. The Roosters threatened for much of the match but the pressure put on them forced mistakes close to the Penrith line.

Their thrashing of Parramatta in round 4 was helped by a dreadful Eels performance but Penrith were able to capitlise on this by putting on 39 points. Winger Etuate Uaisele benefiting from strong inside play to score a hatrick.

Even in their losses Penrith have been impressive at times. Their round 1 loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs is one that got away, and the team will need to win those types of games if they want to stay in the top 8.

The scoreline against South Sydney in round 3 suggests that the match was fairly one sided when Souths beat the Panthers 40 - 24. Souths played very well and arguably would have beaten just about anyone in the comp with that form. To Penrith's credit they showed a lot of fight in that match, still scoring 24 points. Had their starts in each half been better, the game would have been close.

So what is to like about the 2012 Panthers?

Their key players are confident and combining well:

Their key positions at 1, 6, 7 and 9 seem to compliment each others games. Lachlan Coote, Travis Burns, Luke Walsh and Kevin Kingston are starting to gel and understand each other more often. When in good form Kingston and Walsh could be a deadly pair. Walsh is definitely the man who gets the ball but opposing teams need to watch Kingston. He times his dummy half runs very well and Lachlan Coote could be a major benefactor from them. Walsh looks to be running and organising the team around the field very well. They are all quick to get into supporting positions when there is a break down field often at the hand of one of the above mentioned.

Round 2 Highlights vs the Sydney Roosters

The left side attack is starting to look dangerous:

Penrith will be looking to go left this year, with Clint Newton looking to be an excellent pick-up for the Panthers. He is strong, mobile and an experienced backrower who knows when to pass and to hold onto the ball. His ball running will be a good weapon for the Panthers attack as it will keep opposition teams guessing, something the Panthers have lacked since Frank Pritchard left for the Bulldogs.

Michael Jennings is looking particularly ominous with the ball in his hands. He is moving well and he is moving fast, his try against the Roosters is proof of this. Jennings has already scored 4 tries in 2012 having scored just 1 all last season and he seems to be enjoying the extra space someone like Newton can create.

Travis Burns too, has looked dangerous close to the line either passing short or running himself. He looks much stronger this year and has the potential to cause headaches close to the line. The Panthers also have to be careful no to go left too often and capitilise on stretched defensive lines. This can be seen in the Eels game when Walsh shifts the ball quickly for the Panthers to score on the right hand side of the posts.

 Penrith's left side attack on display

against Parramatta, round 4

The underrated forward pack:


The Penrith forwards have shown good early signs this season. They work hard and have the ability to take on much fancied opponents. This was evident in the South Sydney game after they started slowly and the Roosters game where their head down approach was effective. When they concentrate on the task at hand they give Luke Walsh plenty of time and space to use the ball effectively.

Sam McKendry has been good along with Dayne Weston who is relishing more time in the top grade and will start against the Cronulla Sharks in round 5. Nathan Smith is a big loss for the Panthers, particularly in defence but the bench has been good at covering injuries so far. What is also good news for Penrith fans is the signing of New Zealand international Lewis Brown for 3 years beginning in 2013.

Ivan Cleary as coach:

The evidence for Ivan Cleary being the man for the job is across the Tasman at Auckland. While Cleary was coach of the New Zealand Warriors the team became more consistent. He allows his players to be instinctive which will suit players like Luke Walsh and Lachlan Coote. If Cleary can do the same at Penrith, than the combination could work well. Discipline and consistency are vital to any team but none more so then at Penrith. 

Luke Lewis:

Possibly the most important asset to the Panthers is their captain, Luke Lewis. He is one of the best players in the game and if he stays fit the season will be a huge asset to the Panthers, his all round ability and skill is an excellent option for the side and he reads the play extremely well. He is tireless in both defence and attack and is much better when he is given a bit of freedom at lock. His experience and leadership abilities are vital to the side. He should have a big season in 2012 being the new captain. Lewis plays his 200th first grade game in round 5 against the Sharks.

Luke Lewis: Leading the way in 2012. 

Picture: Mark Evans

Courtersy of: www.heraldsun.com.au

After 4 rounds the Panthers are sitting in 5th spot on the ladder and although the season has a long way to go are looking like a positive side. If they can improve their defence against the better sides and become more consistent, Penrith are a team to watch out for in 2012.

ETSA Contax defeat Woods Panthers in tough battle

ETSA Contax has defeated Woods Panthers by 14 goals in their round 2 Subway Cup match at Netball SA Stadium with the final score 53 – 39.

In a tough match that was played at a very good pace for its entirety, Contax proved too strong for Panthers making fewer errors and making the most of good transitional play from defence to attack. Contax GA Chelsea Lemke finishing off the good teamwork scoring 36 goals at 80% for the match.

Contax opened the scoring in the first quarter with 3 straight goals against some good defensive pressure from Panthers GK Sally Fuller and GD Beth Shimmin. The quarter developed into a good contest with both sides using every bit of court space to try and get the ball to their shooters. Although Contax went into the first break with a 4-goal lead, Panthers were in the contest through a good shooting performance from GS Kim Walker who did not miss from her 9 attempts.

The intensity of the match was continued into the second quarter as Panthers looked to cut into the 4 goal margin. Costly errors and the persistence of the Contax defence, led by GD Jane Fitzgerald and GK Georgia Beaton, slowed the Panthers attack and stopped their momentum going into the attacking third. Contax on the other hand were making the most of their opportunities and extended their lead to 8 goals at half time.

Like the second quarter Panthers started the third with plenty of intent and scored the first 2 goals of the quarter. However, Contax snuffed out any chance of a sudden comeback by getting the two goals back and keeping the lead to 8. Contax quick ball movement at the top of the attacking circle was causing lots of headaches for the Panthers defence allowing Lemke to receive good ball under the net. They extended their lead at the final break to 13 goals.

The shooting battle between Lemke and Walker continued into the final quarter but it was Lemke getting more opportunities. Contax continued to control the pace of the game with C Chloe Joyce looking as fresh as she was at the first minute of the match. Panthers continued to push Contax right to the end but turnovers continued to hamper their efforts.

Contax captain Jane Fitzgerald while happy with the win said the team can improve.

“It was a tough hard win, we always knew that Woods were going to be a tough game and we’re certainly happy to come out with a win but there’s plenty of room for improvement,” she said.

Although the team has a few Subway Cup debutants Fitzgerald said the team was combing well.

Panthers captain Sally Fuller said that while it took a while to get into the flow of the game their structure was good.

“For our first game on court it took as a while to get in to the flow of the game but we got our team structure together and played well when we stuck to our game plan.”

“I think our lapses toward the end of the quarter were our downfall and the Contax are the type of team to really take advantage.”

In the other round 2 games played Spring Gully Newton Jaguars got home in a tight result against the Royal Cougars, winning 53 – 50 and the Contours Matrics remain undefeated by beating Garville 79 – 36. Health and Life Phoenix had the bye.

Quarter by quarter scores:

Q1:   Con   13 – 9   Pan

Q2:   Con   26 – 18   Pan

Q3:   Con   43 – 30   Pan

Q4:   Con   53 – 39   Pan

Shooting Percentages:

Contax   (75.71%)

A. Martin:     17/25   (68%)

C. Lemke:     36/45   (80%)

Panthers   (76.47%)

K. Walker:     30/37   (81.08%)

E. Thomas:     9/14   (64.29%)

Rugby League missing out on excellent opportunities

The National Rugby League has missed an excellent opportunity to promote their product to new audiences in South Australia and area where the sport has low support over the past few weeks. 


With long domestic and international cricket seasons over the summer coming to a close and the A-League season winding down, the NRL could have reaped the benefits of sole free-to-air coverage on Friday nights. Particularly rounds 2 and 3 when cricket broadcasting commitments had been completed with the Nine Network. 


The first three rounds could have been the perfect 'testing' period for the code in a region such as South Australia where support is very low. Broadcasting matches prime time and possibly live as they are in Queensland and New South Wales, would also have given the game more exposure. This is directly relative to gathering more support for the round 16 match between Canterbury and Melbourne at the Adelaide Oval. 


But it is not entirely the NRL that is to blame for this lost opportunity. 


The NRL are definitely one of the parties who should take responsibility for this blunder, particularly with plans for the competition's expansion in the coming years. The power given to TV broadcasters, mainly the Nine Network, in decision making for the code is far too great. 


This starts with their ability to effect the draw by selecting which games they will broadcast. This 'power' has meant that the Brisbane Broncos will play on Friday nights for the first 8 weeks of the 2012 season. 


As such, there is a benefit for the Broncos in two ways. 


Firstly, the advantage of a set schedule over a number of weeks, for the early part of the competition. Knowing they have the same playing schedule allows for a set routine and weekly match build up, even if they are traveling for an away fixture. 


The second is financial advantage through the exposure their sponsors are constantly receiving from being part of a main broadcast each week. 


I do not mean to pick on the Broncos, their case is just an example of how the NRL need to take more responsibility in the running of their competition. 


The Nine Network, or WIN Television in regards to South Australia, also need to take some responsibility. These are the networks that are solely responsible for the promotion of the game on free-to-air TV and in areas like South Australia where Rugby League is virtually unknown. 

Image courtesy of WIN TV

The NRL and Nine Network, affiliates included, need to take advantage of every chance they get in their respective battles against the AFL and the 7 Network who are far more dominant in areas such as Adelaide. 


The broadcast time of 9's Friday Night Football in Adelaide can be seen here, but this is what it could be competing with on Friday the 23rd of March.


It is missed opportunities such as the past three weeks that help disenchant any positive ideas of future NRL expansion plans. The NRL's plans of expansion is an issue in itself, let alone better free-to-air TV coverage of the code's marquee competition. 


Before seriously considering expanding into areas like Perth, the NRL really need to look at every opportunity if they want to fend off the AFL in Rugby League heartlands.

Contours Matrics prevail over determined Health and Life Phoenix

Contours Matrics have started the 2012 Subway Cup season where they left off in 2011 by defeating a committed Health and Life Phoenix. Both teams left nothing on the court during a frenetic and entertaining first half before Matrics showed their experience in a much more controlled finish to the match.

Fittingly, it was Phoenix who had the first centre pass of the 2012 season as both teams got off to a nervous but energetic start and it was Phoenix also scoring the first goal of the match.  

The first quarter lead was determined by which side could get the ball to their attacking circle more, as unforced errors and turnovers were frequent in the opening exchanges. Matrics edged to an early lead with shooter Cody Lange dominant in the circle.

Phoenix appeared to settle midway through the quarter taking the lead 4 minutes from the first break with a strong display from Phoenix shooter Kylie Jarrett. Phoenix goalkeeper Dalice Kennedy and goal defence Nadia Mapunda provided good defensive pressure in the circle to help maintain the side’s momentum going into the second quarter. 

Like the first, the second quarter was played at a very fast pace with Matrics making the most of early opportunities coming from 3 goals down to take a 4 goal lead early on. In a tight contest through the mid court neither side could gain momentum with turnovers and unforced errors still effecting play.

Phoenix once again took the lead mid-way through the quarter only to have Matrics steal it back a few minutes before half time. Lange continued her good form, with good support from goal attack Stephanie Hentschel and improved pressure from the Matrics defensive third, as Matrics went into half time leading 28 to 24.  

Changes were made to both sides for the third quarter. For Phoenix, Kate Kilpatrick replaced Edwina Gosse at centre and Mel Rowland came into goal attack replacing Mel Gibb. Matrics replaced Cody Lange with Laura Packard at goal shooter.

Game speed slowed down in the third quarter as both teams looked to use the ball with greater control forcing the error rate to drop. Matrics looked the more composed team making the most of possession with Packard and Hentschel combining well in the circle. Matrics also built defensive pressure through the mid-court heading into the final quarter. Although winning the quarter by 1 goal, Phoenix still trailed by 3 at the final break.

Phoenix once again made changes with Gosse coming into wing defence, Luka Thompson shifting to goal defence and Nadia Mapunda moving to the bench. Steph Ventrice replaced Erin Scheepens at wing attack.

Matrics finished the match strongly, controlling the pace of the game in the final quarter. Their lead stretched to 10 goals with ten minutes remaining. The Phoenix effort was still there but they continued to make errors that disrupted their fluidity. Matrics’ mid-courters Kyra Brown, Sheree Wingard and Heather Wright combined well, guiding the team to the final whistle.

“It was a really good hit out, we worked hard to build pressure on the other team and I thought we did that really well.” Brown said.

Brown was also pleased with the team’s effort in the second half.

“We really tried to step it up and be patient, we knew we had the experience to be composed and be patient and we knew we had the players to get there and get the win.”

“It was good to take it away in the last quarter.”

Phoenix mid-courter Edwina Gosse noted that errors were too many but is confident the team can bounce back.

“We put together a really good first half but couldn’t maintain that for the whole game unfortunately but I think we will get there.”

Probably our error rate, we didn’t know when to slow the pace of the game and when to control it. A lot of unforced errors.”

In the other games played, ETSA Contax defeated Royal Cougars 51 – 41 and Spring Gully Jaguars posted a convincing win over Garville 61 – 26.

Quarter by quarter scores:

Q1:   Mat   11 – 14   Phx

Q2:   Mat   28 – 24   Phx

Q3:   Mat   40 – 37   Phx

Q4:   Mat   58 – 51   Phx

Shooting Percentages:

Matrics:

C. Lange:       19/25   (76%)

S. Hentschel:      20/26   (76.9%)

L. Packard:      19/26   (73.6%)

 Phoenix:

K. Jarrett:     31/39   (79.5%)

M. Gibb:      5/8   (62.5%)

M. Rowland:      15/21   (71.4%)