MILLICENT is a tough opponent across the board, at home and away, but the Cats managed to pick up one win each in the junior and senior divisions of Western Border netball at the weekend.

 The B Grade and 13 & Under B Cats continued their outstanding form to take their third and fourth wins of the season, respectively, to set up their positions in the top of the premiership tables.

From the scribes

13 & UNDER B

THE Casterton Sandford 13 & Under B team came up against a strong Millicent team on Saturday but worked well together to come away with the win.

In the first half the Cats’ attackers, Marlee Robbins and Renee Gorman moved the ball down to the goalies with Brooklyn Mutch and Adele Murphy getting the early points on the board.

Down the defence end, Zoya Syed and Ylana Grigg applied the pressure keeping the scores locked early.

Millicent communicated well on the court and were able to apply some pressure to keep their goalies busy.

The second half was tough, scores were tight and legs were tired.

Mid-court combination of Stacey Edwards, Georgia Bailey, and Marlee Robbins had plenty of work to do to keep the game moving in both directions.

After a few changes the Cats entered the last quarter keen to secure the four points.

The girls all worked hard to keep momentum going, finishing the game with a win, 22 to 17.

A GRADE

THE Cats hosted the Saints at the weekend and started with another new look – partly to try some new combinations and partly to cover injury and player unavailability.

It was a new look defensive combination with Meg Smith taking on the unenviable task of trying to limit the influence of Tabatha Sanderson, with Madalene Cleary out the front to take on playmaker Demi Verbena.

It turned out to be a tough outing for the experience had working duo as Millicent put on a clinic in every area of the court ensuring they had a lion’s share of possession and were able to carve their way through the court to score a stunning 94 goals.

Young Saints defenders Portia McRae and Lauren Van Eeden were able to make life tough for the new look shooting combination of coach Dani Russell and Chelsey Galpin, with Chloe Foster moving to the attacking wing and Madeline Patton taking the centre bib.

The pressure applied by Lisa Duldig and Lillie Paul on the Cats feeders was relentless and helped McRae and Van Eeden create the turnover ball and then with ball in hand, Millicent moved the ball with speed and precision through Paul and Daisy Tunkin to find their shooters in space.

The Millicent shooters netted those 95 goals from 114 opportunities.

The Cats just had no answers to the polished Saints and in the first three quarters were only able to generate 22 scoring opportunities although the last quarter with Ivy Lane and Galpin in the shooting circle, they netted a perfect 10 from 10 as a combination, doubling the output from the previous three quarters.

Patton was also a shining light with her hard running in centre and willingness to keep presenting as an option for her under pressure teammates, while Cleary also battled hard to stem the flow, while also helping bring the ball through the mid court.

THIS WEEKEND …

NORTH Gambier has been in good form in 2023 despite significant personnel changes and it will make for a tough day at the office for the Cats when they take on the Tigers at Vansittart Park, this weekend.

Casterton Sandford has been battling injury and player unavailability and it has made it tough to settle into any rhythm.

Madalene Cleary has been a shining light for the Cats and will probably need to be the mainstay in defence as the Cats look to limit the scoring of Grace Potts and Macey Griffith.

At the other end, the Cats have some talented young shooters to run through the circle with Ivy Lane, Chloe Foster and the returning Chelsey Galpin all capable of testing defenders with their well timed moves.

They will need to be patient as the Tigers defensive line-up of Noni McConnell, Mikaila Pitt, Lauran Norman and Mel Renko are tight checking and don’t allow any easy ball.

Cats centre Madeline Patton is coming off her best game in A Grade and her hard running will be important in the battle with Renko, while Libby Altorfer and Dani Russell will need to bring leadership to the mid court.

And they will need to work hard defensively given the form of Brianna Walters on the attacking wing for the Tigers.

North will get the job done but the Cats will continue to improve as they spend more time together on court.