Magpies recover from scare to beat Grammar

Reigning premiers Magpies 1 survived a scare from improving outfit Grammar 1 to notch their fourth win of the 2016 Albany Netball Association A1 competition on Saturday afternoon.

Despite winning only one of their first four games this season, Grammar have been impressive, with their talented youngsters pushing them to close results against Royals Saints 1 (2-goal loss) and Kangas 2 (4-goal loss).

Magpies 1 got the early jump on Grammar in their round 5 encounter with centre Kelly Judd at her damaging best and defensive trio Leanne James, Sophie Bacon-Lewis and Ebony Thorpe helping them to a 25-18 half-time lead.

Grammar failed to give in however, and a stirring third-quarter performance, led by midcourt star Bridgette Latham and firing forward Cleo Bigwood, got them back in the contest.

The third term belonged to Grammar as they outscored Magpies 13-5, to snatch the lead and go into three-quarter time one goal ahead.

The experienced Magpies outfit responded however in the final term as they won a low-scoring period 9 goals to 5 on their way to a narrow four-goal victory.

Shooting combination Summer and Nikki Stirling held their nerve in the final stanza for Magpies and Judd gave plenty of drive as they prevailed 39-35.

Meanwhile Kangas 2 kept hold of top spot after winning an enthralling low-scoring contest against Jokers 1, to record their fourth win of the season.

Jokers applied plenty of pressure throughout the contest but were left to rue a slow start as Kangas led 5-0 at quarter time.

Defenders Tina Mundy and Kaylene Parker both worked hard for Jokers and caused a number of missed goal attempts from Kangas.

Kangas, through their own defensive work led by Jodi Bradley, Kia Mitchell and Jody Ironmonger, were able to lead by six goals at half-time and a game-high nine goals at the last break before going on to score victory, 28-19.

Tanya Tapscott was important for Jokers, along with forward Chelsey Jackson but Kangas’ class shone through as they extended their winning streak to four games.

In the other results, Royals Saints were comfortable winners over Narrikup 1, 46-29, while Kangas 1 did the job on Magpies 2, 57-36.