Royals Saints far too strong for Bethel while Kangas 1 pinch two-goal thriller over Bullets

Royals Saints 1 began the new Albany Netball Association A1 season in dominant fashion, thrashing promoted team Bethel 1 by 38 goals in the opening round on Saturday. With recruit Summer Stirling playing in attack in the first quarter Royals Saints were clinical with their finishing as Stirling netted 10 goals and Nardia Humphries added five to help their side open up an 11-goal advantage. The margin stretched to 21 by half-time as Royals Saints captain Taylah Orzel and youngster Jorja Ward gave great drive from midcourt. Stirling added eight goals and Charlie Edwards scored eight coming off the bench with the Bethel defence constantly under pressure. Bethel tried hard to pull back the deficit in the second half with Hannah Wesson and Isabella McTaggart showing impressive signs. Defenders Nicole Shephard and Enya Marques had their hands full however as Royals Saints finished with 14 goals in the third term to extend the buffer to 29. Despite seven goals in the final term, Bethel were outclassed by the strong Royals Saints outfit as they powered to a big round one result. Humphries nailed nine goals in the final stanza and Charlie Edwards chipped in with seven as their side ran out emphatic winners, 61-23. A 22-goal effort from Humphries up forward was a key part of the victory while Stirling added 18 goals despite playing only one half in attack. Georgia Edwards and Kathryn Jennings were rock solid in defence and Charlie Edwards chipped in with 21 goals across three quarters in the goal circle. McTaggart toiled hard across the four quarters for Bethel and Brodie Dixon scored 10 of their 23 goals. In the other A1 clash Kangas 1 were narrow two-goal winners over Bullets 1 in a tight finish. Kangas led by three goals at three quarter time but Bullets produced a spirited final quarter challenge. Bullets won the final term 14 goals to 13 as goal shooter Emily Gadean nailed 10 of her 13 attempts but Kangas clung on in the dying stages. Hayley Hulm was terrific in centre court for Kangas while Rebecca Benson hit 12 of 16 attempts in the fourth to guide her side to a tense 49-47 win. Benson was a star in the goal circle with 42 goals while defenders Hannah Mackay and Isabella De Giambattista were also solid. Bullets trailed by four goals at quarter time and fought their way back into the game in the second on the back of the efforts of Lauren Lehmann and Montanna Baker. Gadean was their main avenue to goal in the loss, scoring 30 of her 40 attempts. The round one match between Magpies 1 and Narrikup 1, a grand final replay, was postponed due to COVID.