Royals Saints keep perfect record

Royals Saints 1 remained undefeated in the Albany Netball Association A1 competition after handing Kangas 1 their first loss of the season on Saturday.

Neither team had tasted defeat this season, but Royals Saints’ efficiency in attack proved decisive on their way to an impressive eight-goal win, 43-35, to maintain their perfect start to the season.

Royals Saints were eventually able to break the shackles of the tight defensive battle early to edge clear with a 13-9 second quarter to build on the first-term lead.

Their seven-goal lead at the major break came thanks largely to the straight shooting of goal attack Nardia Humphries, who slotted nine straight goals for the term.

Humphries teamed up with Carly Szczecinski in the circle in a telling battle with Kangas captain and goal defender Rachel Willcocks.

Kangas injected Sascha Roberts into attack in the second term and enjoyed a fruitful third stanza to finish with 10 goals in only two quarters on-court.

The margin pushed out to 10 goals but Roberts and the experienced Rani Rawlinson were able to trim the gap to six.

But Royals Saints held firm to maintain their handy buffer in the final term to remain undefeated.

Defenders Lisa Amess, Narelle Humphries and Amber Congram applied consistent pressure in a top defensive display, limiting the Kangas shooters in the second half to only 17 goals from 31 attempts.

Humphries finished with a game-high 30 goals from 40 attempts, while Szczecinski finished with 13 goals from 21 attempts.

In other round 7 results, Magpies 1 continued their winning ways after surviving a superb final term fightback from Kangas 2.

At three-quarter-time, Magpies led by 11 goals, but a determined Kangas outfit fought back gallantly to score 14 goals in the fourth term but Magpies eventually prevailed, 51-45.

Grammar 1 powered to a 24-goal victory over Bethel 1 after scoring double figure goals in every quarter, ending 52-28 winners to secure their third win of the season and jump back into the top four.