Kangas too strong for Magpies

A dominant 17-goal first quarter has guided Kangas 2 to their first win of the 2016 Albany Netball Association A1 competition, downing new side Magpies 2 in the round 2 fixture on Saturday afternoon.

The big improvers in 2015, Kangas 2 drew in round 1 last week but bounced back in the second round with a comfortable 11-goal victory over the promoted Magpies 2 team, which was set up by their convincing opening term.

Midcourt players Bronte Walker and Jodie Wignall gave the Kangas 2 forwards plenty of supply with goal attack Shelby Upson and goal shooter Monique Nicholson finishing off the good work.

Kangas 2 netted 17 goals in the productive first term while their defence led by Jodi Bradley helped restrict Magpies 2 to just four goals of their own.

Trailing by 13 goals, Magpies played a lot better in the second quarter, outscoring their opponents by a goal to head into half-time 11-23 behind.

Wing attack Taimania Jones and forward Nicole Schroeter helped lead the Magpies 2 revival and despite Kangas 2 extending the margin to 14 goals at the final break, Magpies 2 won the final stanza but went down 30-41 at the finish.

Kangas 2 proved far too strong, however, led by the brilliance of Upson in the goal circle and the work of Bradley and Walker while player-coach Kate Minter was important at centre in the last three quarters.

Upson scored the bulk of her side’s score but her partnership with the reliable Nicholson up forward will give opposition teams plenty of headaches this season.

Kangas 2 had great support down the court and tried a number of new combinations in the win.

Magpies 2 coach Rosemary Wolter, who last year steered Magpies 1 to the A1 premiership, would have been pleased with the way her side fought their way back into the contest.

Jones was one of their best players along with Schroeter and mid-court player Zandalee Arthur.

Meanwhile in the other results, Royals Saints 1 remain unbeaten after their 47-25 thrashing of Jokers 1 and Kangas 1 rebounded from a first-up loss to defeat Grammar 1 comfortably, 43-28.

The Narrikup 1 and Magpies 1 contest was rescheduled to tonight.