Round 12 Match Report – IMB South Coast Blaze VS ERNA Hawks
Opens
IMB South Coast Blaze Opens headed into this match having defeated the Hawks in their round 3 encounter by just two goals and Hawks were out to seek redemption.
IMB South Coast Blaze Opens raced out to a 4-0 lead early thanks for a Tegan Holland (GK) rebound, speedy passing by Katelyn Anderson (C) and some consecutive goals to Kristina Brice (GS). That was unfortunately where the Blaze lead ended. Hawks finally scored after 3 minutes and through some unlucky shots from the Blaze shooters, quickly caught back up to 5-5 after 6 minutes of play. Hawks found their groove and increased their whole court defensive pressure to force turnovers and take a 7-5 lead. Dani Di Bartolo was injected into the game in GA, but it did little to stop the attack end turnovers, with Blaze heading into the first quarter break down 9-17.
Kayla Johnson (WD) entered the game after the break. Kristina Brice (GS) scored the first goal of the quarter. Taylah Davies (WA) took a great intercept in the mid court, but Katelyn Anderson (C) unfortunately put a foot over the sideline when bringing the ball down court. Both teams appeared to struggle to convert their turnovers. Chaise Vassallo came on in the Centre position. Blaze reduced its goal deficit thanks to a Tegan Holland (GK) rebound. Kayla Johnson was moved back into GD and Elecia Parrott returned as WD. This had an immediate impact, with the pressure from Johnson and Parrott forcing Hawks to throw the ball over the baseline. However, Dani Di Bartolo (GA) unfortunately missed her shot to convert the turnover. Shelby Mallon replaced Brice as GS with two minutes remaining in the quarter. Tegan Holland (GK) took another impressive rebound on the half time buzzer to deny Hawks a late goal, however Blaze went into half time down 23-33.
Third quarter saw Katelyn Anderson returning to Centre and Kristina Brice back on as GS. The attack end connected early, with great feeds into Brice by both Taylah Davies (WA) and Dani Di Bartolo (GA), to reduce the margin to 7 (28-35). The defensive combination of Kayla Johnson (GD) and Tegan Holland (GK) were proving lethal in the circle, but Blaze just struggled to make the most of the turnovers they were making and sadly couldn’t reduce the score line any further. Shelby Mallon replaced Brice as GS with 4 minutes remaining. Chaise Vassallo returned as WA with one minute remaining and Dani Di Bartolo (GA) scored a last second goal to make the three-quarter time score 35-42.
IMB South Coast Blaze Opens entered the last quarter with a lot of work ahead of them. Kristina Brice returned to GS and Shelby Mallon came back on in GA. Blaze scored off the first centre to reduce the margin to just 6, 36-42. Kayla Johnson (GD) and Tegan holland (GK) did their best to keep Blaze in touch, but Blaze attack end struggled against the defence of Hawks. Taylah Davies relaced Katelyn Anderson in Centre after Katelyn took a tumble. Hawks continued to move quickly down the court and converted every turnover they got. Chelsea Bolton (WA) entered the game with 8 minutes remaining and the score at 38-52 and Te-Arn Bradley also came on as WD. Shelby Mallon (GA) managed to score a long shot immediately, the score at 39-56. Hawks’ full court defensive pressure, combined with their accurate shooting, hurt Blaze late in the game and they couldn’t claw back the margin.
Final score: IMB South Coast Blaze 43 ERNA Hawks 64
U23s
IMB South Coast Blaze U23s came into this match having defeated the Hawks by 19 goals in their previous round 3 encounter.
IMB South Coast Blaze U23s began the game with blistering speed, getting out to an early 3-0 lead, however the Hawks quickly caught back up, levelling at 3-3. Hawks extended their lead to 6-4 following an intercept of a pass in the Blaze goal circle. Chaise Vassallo (WA), having played for the Blaze Opens earlier in the evening, had defence covered down the attack end and was moved into the Centre position, with Mia Evans coming on as WA. Ky-Mani Schwenke (GS) took a glorious intercept in the attack end and then converted her own intercept to bring the score back to 9-10. Selene Chadrawy’s defensive pressure in WD forced Hawks to throw a pass over the sideline with one minute to go, allowing Blaze take a 15-14 lead heading into the break.
Second quarter began with just one positional change, Bronnee Loy back on in WA. Selene Chadrawy (WD) was into everything early on, getting tips around circle edge, helping Blaze get out to an early 18-16 lead. The Blaze defensive combination of Jessica Bowden (GD) and Aimee Landrigan (GK) dominated early in the second quarter. Mia Evans came on as GA and Blaze began to get their rhythm, using all of the court when bringing the ball down and pushing out to a 21-16 lead. Solid rebounding by Landrigan (GK) and intercepts by Vassallo (C) saw Blaze up by 5 at half time, 29-24.
Half time saw the end of Vassallo’s time in the game, as Premier League rules allow a player to only play a total of 5 quarters across both games (opens and 23s) in one night. Bronnee Loy returned to Centre, Emily Dunn came on as WA and Chloe Burden entered the game in GK. The third quarter went goal-for-goal until Hawks broke a Blaze centre to reduce the margin to 32-29 after 5 minutes. Aimee Landrigan moved out to GD and Jessica Bowden moved to WD. A couple of mistakes by Blaze saw ERNA make it a one goal game at 32-31 before Ky-Mani Schwenke (GS) scored a settler to make it 33-31. Blaze defensive pressure forced a held ball penalty by the Hawks shooter, with Schwenke converting to take a 36-33 lead. Bronnee Loy took a spectacular intercept of a Hawks bounce pass on the circle edge, and Shwenke again rewarded her with a couple of quick goals in succession to take it out to a 6-goal lead. Chloe Burden took an intercept to deny Hawks a last-minute goal. Three quarter time score, 39-34.
The only change heading into the last quarter was Selene Chadrawy back on as Centre. The fourth quarter began like the third, with the game again going goal-for-goal until Blaze defensive pressure forced Hawks to throw a wayward pass over the baseline after 3 minutes. Mia Evans (GA) scored, followed quickly by Ky-Mani Schwenke (GS) to take the score out to 43-36. Emily Dunn (WA) and Schwenke (GS) connected well in the attack end, with Schwenke’s reliable hands and offensive rebounds being a highlight of her game tonight. Chloe Burden took an intercept in the circle, with the Blaze moving the ball down court with their signature speed. Mia Evans (GA) rewarded Burden with a goal. Schwenke scored an amazing goal on the final buzzer, but it was waived away by the umpire who said the clock beat her.
Final score: IMB South Coast Blaze 53 ERNA Hawks 44
