Tumby Bay d Eyre United 46-27

TUMBY Bay has made it two from two after a 19-goal win over major rivals Eyre United on Saturday.

Much of the warm up for the game was spent huddled in the sheds while a huge downpour passed, but once the game started the rain stayed away.

Eyre United won the toss and chose to take the first centre pass, but Tumby were not going to let the Saints score and they soon turned it over and got it down to their end to shoot that goal, plus the next one from Tumby’s centre pass.

Tumby Bay were confident after their good start and they soon started to force the ball into the ring, which was making it easy for Saints’ new player Tammy Lucena to intercept.

Fortunately for the Blues Nadine McInerny and Linda Trenberth were on their toes and cutting off most attempts by the Saints to get it into the ring.

Tumby Bay had possession of the ball for much of the quarter but once again simple errors were being made, which caused turnovers but they led by three at the first break.

Tumby came out in the second quarter fired up and the defenders were once again frustrating Saints goalies Hayley Masson and Chelsea Baillie.

Shae Franks was putting the pressure on and causing the Saints to pass over the ring, which enabled the defenders to pick off everything.

At times the play was scrappy from both sides but Tumby were playing better netball and at half time they had increased their lead to 11.

Eyre United stuck with the same positions but Tumby swapped Somma Baldiserra into shooter and Ilka White into win attack.

This was a good move by the coach as Baldiserra was able to hold well on Kennelly and White and Cross, at centre, were able to place the ball well.

Towards the end of the quarter both sides were back to making silly mistakes and some basic skill errors were allowing the other side to score.

Injury time was called once again after Franklin and Eyre United’s Marissa Evans collided after a Saint’s turnover.

Eyre United couldn’t draw the score much closer during the third term and Tumby went into the final quarter with a 14-goal lead.

The Saints made some changes to try and shut down the Blues with Stewart going back into goal keeper, Kennelly moving out to centre and Hali Koch went into wing attack.

These changes didn’t make much difference and Tumby played the last quarter in the smooth flowing style of play they are known for.

Franklin and Baldiserra were still working well together around the ring, but young Yasmin Stewart was putting the pressure on and when there was a rebound she was able to out jump everyone to gain possession of the ball.

In a match-up that many spectators might have liked to watch for more than a quarter, Cross and Kennelly, in the centre, were having a good tussle and fighting hard for their respective teams.

Despite a few mistakes at the start of the game Tumby were the much better side, and in a game that either side hates to lose, the Blues were the victors by 19, with best player honors going to Shae Franks and Yasmin Stewart.