Huge second quarter helps Magpies defeat gallant Jokers

A 15-goal second quarter guided defending premiers Magpies 1 to their ninth victory of the Albany Netball Association A1 competition on Saturday afternoon, as the fight for second place heads into the final round of the season.

Magpies are in second place after their 20-goal win over a brave Jokers 1 outfit in the penultimate round of the regular season, but they are no certainties to finish there and face Kangas 1 in the second semifinal.

Both Magpies and Kangas 2 are locked together on 18 points, but Magpies have a superior percentage while Royals Saints 1 are also in the mix on 17 points going into the final round.

In a cracking last round of the season, the top four all play each other, with Kangas 1 doing battle with Kangas 2 and Magpies tackling Royals Saints.

Magpies led early in the first quarter of Saturday’s match after several turnovers, but through the excellent work of Jokers defenders Kaylene Parker and Tina Mundy, they were able to turn that around and went into quarter time 13-10 ahead.

Magpies stepped it up in the second quarter, with Kelly Judd highly influential as they quickly took back the lead and then opened a significant advantage.

Judd and Erica Schwarzbach were terrific with their drive down court, providing plenty of feeds for in-form shooter Summer Stirling, who helped Magpies net 15 goals in the second as they limited Jokers to just three at the other end.

The addition of Nicola Thies into the Magpies team this week proved handy as she and Sophie Bacon-Lewis worked well together into the circle. Bacon-Lewis’ height certainly helped with the Jokers’ high ball attempts into the circle, almost getting a tip to everyone.

Jokers fought hard until the end, with Pippa Barrows and Chelsey Jackson moving well in the goal circle as their side lost the third quarter by four goals, but Magpies’ class prevailed in the last as they shot clear to record a 50-30 victory.

Magpies sharpshooter Stirling netted 10 goals from 13 attempts in the third quarter and Ashley Crock provided great support with 11 from 16, while Barrows shot 10 of her 15 attempts in the second half.

Despite impressive games from centre court duo Taylah Orzel and Pippa Maslen, Narrikup 1 gave up a two-goal half-time lead against ladder leaders Kangas 1 to lose by 15 goals at the final whistle.

With Carrie Beeck and Brooke Baines playing no part in the match, Kangas 1 controlled the second half on their way to a convincing 49-34 win.

In the other round 13 matches, Kangas 2 fought off a strong challenge from Royals Saints, 35-31, and Grammar 1 recorded a big win over Magpies 2, 41-27.