CASTERTON Sandford faced a tough day on the courts across all grades at the weekend, coming up against the well-oiled Millicent sides and with the pandemic striking several teams.
While the scoreboard at the end of the day read 10 games to nil, the outstanding debuts of two juniors in the Cats’ A Grade side and the versatility of players across the grades, successfully switching into previously untried roles, are all positives the club takes into round three, when it takes on the East Gambier Bulldogs at McDonald Park, after the Easter break.
From the scribes …
A GRADE
ALWAYS a tough opponent, the polished Millicent side have been touted as the early premiership favourites this season.
This was always going to be a difficult match, the rearing of Covid mid-week also made the task even more difficult with key players and coach unavailable.
Scarlett Jarrad took on the role of playing coach for the day and led by example, hard contesting of the ball over the court, her accurate feeding into the goalers and continuous encouragement of her teammates earned her best on court for the Cats.
Chloe Foster lined up at WA and showed some very positive signs in her A Grade debut, with strong drives onto the circle and creative feeding into goalies Charlotte Rice and Gaby Tomkins.
Both Rice and Tomkins had to work hard for every possession due to the pressure of the Millicent defenders but were able to find space when needed and put goals on the board.
Tomkins continues to improve with each game back - her space creation and clever driving were highlights.
In what was always going to be a tough day in defence, WD Claire Foster, GD Ebany Jarrad and GK Caeleigh Humphries worked tirelessly against a tall, skilful and accurate attacking end that made minimal errors; shooting at above 80 per cent, rebounds were hard to come by.
Jarrad and Humphries worked hard to force errors and create turnovers and send the ball back into attack.
An injury to Claire Foster saw Emma Grigg replace her at WD in the second quarter, where she used her experience to try to slow the flow into offence for Millicent.
The final quarter saw the introduction of Ivy Lane to GS.
The 15-year-old debutant showed great composure under the ring, shooting at 100 per cent.
While outclassed against the premiership favourites, the Cats can take some valuable lessons and continue to grow each week.
And though the score line may not indicate it there were many positives to come from the game, including the strong debuts from both Foster and Lane.
More improvement is forecast for this new look side and continued improvement will come as the season progresses.
15 & UNDER B
THE Cats’ 15 & Under B team had a different line up this week against Millicent in warm conditions.
Millicent played a very tight defensive game and attracted a lot of the whistle in the Cats’ attacking end.
The Cats girls were patient and worked the ball around the goal circle.
The mid-courters in Charlotte Nash, Amelia Bailey, Hanah Nash, and Mia Doyle held their ground against the close-checking Millicent defenders.
In a new position for Indi Longhurst at goal attack, she worked tirelessly for her team and combined well in the goal circle with Brydie Carlin.
At the other end of the court, the Cats’ defenders of Matilda Thompson, Amelia Luers, Amy Crauford and Nicole Cornish worked hard and were able to force several turnovers but unfortunately the team was unable to capitalise.
Overall, the game was very tight until the last quarter when Millicent was able to turn the score over more consistently.
The Cats girls went down 11 to Millicent 32.
The opposition choice of best players were Indi Longhurst and Hanah Nash.
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