Mixed & Matched delivered a commanding second-half performance to defeat Untouchaballs 64-33 in a Fast5 netball showdown last Tuesday night.
They also claimed their fourth consecutive Premiers title.
Both teams made a nervous start, but once the game settled into rhythm, Mixed & Matched recorded back-to-back goals and took the upper hand. They had a narrow 9-7 lead at quarter-time before extending the margin to
22-13 by half-time.
The contest swung heavily in M&M’s favour during the third quarter when they activated their Power Play, where all points are doubled.
They added 28 points for the quarter to take a dominant 50-17 lead heading into the final break.
Untouchaballs responded with spirit in the last quarter, using their Power Play to add 16 points, but Mixed & Matched comfortably maintained control to seal the 31-point victory.
Outstanding for M&M was Goal Attack Jaxon Burke. His Parkour-like athletic movement, elevation and speed around the court repeatedly troubled the Untouchaballs defenders, while his rebounding and finishing ensured the scoreboard kept ticking over.
He combined well with Goal Shooter Lauren Urquhart, while Neve Carter also shot accurately and made an important contribution to the scoreboard.
At the defensive end, James Anderson starred in Goal Defence for Mixed & Matched, using his impressive reach to create numerous intercepts and disrupt Untouchaballs’ attacking flow.
Best for Untouchaballs was Goal Shooter Nikki Gilbert, the competition’s leading POINT scorer, who again showed her class in last week’s match.
Nikki worked well alongside Brianna Watson, whose accurate shooting and sharp passing into the circle kept her side competitive throughout the match.
Presentations followed the grand final game with Mixed & Matched crowned premiers.
Nikki Gilbert was announced as the leading three-point shooter of the competition with a tally of six for the season (just ahead of Lauren Urquhart on four), and Peta Hill and Stevie Toomey were named the competition’s Favourite Fiver players after they both received four nominations each this competition.
