Season-opener saw the Cats travel over the border to Malseed Park to take on the West Gambier Roos in conditions that were ideal for a game of netball.

Cats were severely under-womaned across all senior grades for a range of reasons and the coaches and club are very grateful to those girls who had to play two games.

The day saw the Cats bring home four great wins across senior and junior grades, with the 17 & Under girls in the tightest battle of the day, taking the win by seven goals. 

Our 11 & Unders had a great day out for their first game of the season and we look forward to seeing these young netballers as they learn their game and grow as a team, this year.

Our A Grade girls, under the charge of new coach, Jodie Humphries, took on their 2021-finalist opposition, showing a lot of great signs of things to come this season.

B GRADE

OUR B Grade side looked very different to last year’s team, but after training the house down during the week, they took to the court and got to work.

We welcomed Katie Gill-Killey back to the side after having three seasons away and adding another two bubs to the Killey clan since she last played.

She slotted straight back into her position as WA and teamed well with Mikayla Rice (GA) and Ebony Mutch (GS), as well as Dakota Crawford who was running centre, to form a nice little attacking posse.

Down in the defenders’ circle, Tammy Knight (GK) and Kerri Harvey (GD) denied their opposition of any easy goals and West had to work for every score they got.

Often getting a hand to the ball before it even made it into our defensive circle was Madeline Patton (WD), who was in every contest.

At the quarter-time break the Cats were one up on the Roos, 8 to 7.

A few changes for the second quarter to keep the legs fresh saw Claire Foster jump into the defensive circle and she wasted no time at all and got busy creating turnovers for our goalies to convert; Ebony shooting nine from her 10 attempts for the quarter.

West also made some changes in their attacking circle that saw them settle and convert and at the main break, the Roos led by one, 18 to 19.

Quarter three was where a small lead opened up for us due to some more accurate shooting, with Kerri sinking a few long bombs, while our relentless defensive pressure saw West miss a few goals they should have shot.

The Cats went into the final quarter with a three-goal lead.

Returning to the same positions as the first quarter, Mikayla went back to GA and dominated, shooting 12 goals for the term.

West had no answers down their attacking end as our defenders continued to apply more and more pressure right until the end.

When the final whistle blew Casterton Sandford, 38, defeated West Gambier, 29.

In other games

A Grade:  West Gambier 87 d Casterton Sandford 24.  BEST:  WEST - L. McGregor, S. Ritter.  CASTERTON SANDFORD - S. Jarrad, C. Rice.  Voucher:  Gaby Tomkins (Milly’s), Tessa Marra (Thursday Tea)

A Reserve:  West Gambier 45 d Casterton Sandford 41.  BEST:  WEST - J. Davey. B. Kuller.  CASTERTON SANDFORD - C. Humphries, C. Foster.  Voucher:  Sharna Fidler (Hairwize)

B Grade:  Casterton Sandford 38 d West Gambier 29.  BEST:  CASTERTON SANDFORD - M. Patton, K. Harvey.  WEST - N. Jackway, M. Milich.  Voucher:  Madeline Patton (Sports & All), Ebony Mutch (Boonaroo)

C Grade:  Casterton Sandford 41 d West Gambier 34.  BEST:  CASTERTON SANDFORD - C. Johnston, K. Hutchins.  WEST - K. Earle, E. Pollock.  Voucher:  Kim Hutchins (Sunnyside & Co)

17 & Under:  Casterton Sandford 49 d West Gambier 42.  BEST:  CASTERTON SANDFORD - E. Jarrad, M. Hutchins.  WEST - J. Heraper, S. Clayton.  Voucher:  Makayla Hutchins (Contained Hair and Beauty)

15 & Under A:  West Gambier 52 d Casterton Sandford 31.  BEST:  WEST - E. Xanthopoulos, I. McGregor.  CASTERTON SANDFORD - I. Longhurst, C. Hulm.  Voucher:  Indi Longhurst (Canteen), Charlotte Nash (Casterton Central)

15 & Under B:  West Gambier 41 d Casterton Sandford 26.  BEST:  WEST - M. Vivian, A. Judd.  CASTERTON SANDFORD - C. Hulm, H. Nash.  Voucher:  Matilda Thompson (Thurs Tea), Hannah Nash (V Joyce)

13 & Under A:  West Gambier 70 d Casterton Sandford 3.  BEST:  WEST - L. Pearson, S. Lindner.  CASTERTON SANDFORD - R. Forbes, P. Rhook.  Voucher:  Rachel Forbes (Davis Blinds), Makayla Rees (Herberts)

13 & Under B:  Casterton Sandford 17 d West Gambier 9.  BEST:  CASTERTON SANDFORD - M. Robbins, R. Forbes.  WEST - E. McKenny, C. Hunter.  Voucher:  Phoebe Rhook (Davis Blinds), Georgia Bailey (V & D Joyce)

11 & Under - West Gambier 21 d Casterton Sandford 6.  BEST:  WEST - R. Lamb, P. Bonney-Dawson.  CASTERTON SANDFORD - I. Luhrs, B. Dorahy.  Voucher:  Isabella Luers (Entwined), Bridie Dorahy ($5)