Premier League netball Townsville: Saints rise to top while Roos score third win

Saints head into the two-week break as outright Premier League leaders, but the race for finals spots has taken a dramatic twist. Catch up on Monday’s games and see our Team of the Week.

The First Nations Academy of Excellence (FNAE) Roos made it back-to-back wins on Monday night, beating Phoenix 45-38. Pictured celebrating their round 6 win over Highlanders, June 10 2024. Picture: FNAE

The First Nations Academy of Excellence (FNAE) Roos made it back-to-back wins with a thrilling 45-38 triumph over Phoenix in round 7 of Townsville’s Premier League netball.

The Roos’ third victory of the season puts them into a mid-table logjam with Highlanders and Neptunes also on three wins heading into a two-week break.

An impressive 11 first-quarter goals from GS Meghan Marbelli had Phoenix buzzing early, but once the Roos worked their way into the arm wrestle they starved the Phoenix attack of clean possession.

FNAE GA Georgia Sullivan played the entire game and didn’t slow down for a second as she provided the spark that saw her shooters shine, while chipping in with 13 goals herself.

Shakiah Stafford did most of the damage up front with 20/30 goals but Sonnyanne Raggett also scored a quick 12/13 in the first quarter and a brief but accurate cameo at the end of the fourth.

Townsville Premier League netballer Meghan Marbelli ahead of the 2024 Pre-Season Cup final. Picture: Shaantel Hampson / TCNAI

After trailing by four goals at quarter time, the Roos rallied for an 8-1 run just before halftime to snatch the lead that they would maintain until the end.

Phoenix were resolute in defence and they scored some great goals when the ball got past the outstretched arms of Tenisha Solomon – but that didn’t happen nearly enough.

RUNAWAYS v BURDEKIN

Both teams had plenty to play for in a top-three Premier League clash between Runaways and the Silverlinks, but only one team really showed up as Runaways claimed victory 58-29.

An admittedly understrength Burdekin outfit struggled to keep up from the opening whistle as Runaways shot out to an 8-2 lead.

The Runaways core defensive unit of Alyssa Golding, Imogen Everson and Kelyse James were outstanding and they maintained their impressive enthusiasm for the entire contest.

That trio made it nearly impossible for the Silverlinks to score any easy goals and they sorely missed the reliable shooting of Mackenzie Linton.

Burdekin never gave in but the score got further out of reach at every break.

Runaways utility Keely Warcon was fantastic wherever she played, making some key defensive plays at C in the first quarter before moving up into GS and GA and contributing 18 goals to the scoresheet before playing the fourth quarter at WA.

Runaways’ Keely Warcon playing Premier League netball in 2023.

SAINTS v NEPTUNES

Saints had to scrap for their 58-48 victory over Neptunes, digging deep into their energy reserves to claim the win that saw them jump into outright first on the ladder heading into a two-week break.

Neptunes shooter Lasharna Oswin was strong in the circle and her accuracy – finishing with 42/50 goals – kept her team in the contest until late in the final quarter.

Despite a fast start from the women in blue, Saints went on a scoring blitz to take a four-goal lead into the first break.

Saints’ trademark scorching speed made it a very fast-paced game but uncharacteristically poor shooting, just 72 per cent for the night, meant they were never comfortable with their lead.

Their defence stood up when it counted though and Jenna Green was very reliable at the back.

Jenna Green playing for Saints in Townsville's Premier League 2023. Picture: Saints Netball Club.

Neptunes owned the third quarter 13-11 and that allowed them to come within striking distance during the final term, but Saints pulled away with Grace Parker scoring nine goals and Abbey Pearson draining eight.

HIGHLANDERS v MARIAN VIXENS

An inability to maintain their focus for long periods cost Marian Vixens as they went down to Highlanders 54-46.

It was an evenly matched game for the most part but a shocking five-minute period after halftime saw the Highlanders create a 10-point buffer that proved too much to chase down.

Sam Brown (GD) and Emily Prescott (WD) were phenomenal for Highlanders in transition and with their quick and accurate play to shut down any attack.

It took just 13 seconds for Marian Vixens shooter Amity Bugeja to make her impact felt with a goal in her second game back from injury lay-off, scoring 13/14 goals in the first quarter and finishing the match 34/38.

Marian Vixens player Amity Bugeja. Picture: Shaantel Hampson / TCNAI

But goals came too easily for Highlanders, especially in the final few minutes of quarters, and concentration is something Monday night’s losers will need to address.

The absence of standout GD Maddy Ryan surely didn’t help Marian Vixens’ cause but there were still plenty of positive for both sides.

TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN TEAM OF THE WEEK

GS: Amity Bugeja (Marian Vixens) – The talismanic Marian Vixens co-captain looked effortless scoring goals and her elite positioning, distribution and trademark execution were on show as she scored 34/38. Wasn’t enough to get her team the win but put her nose ahead of the other shooters on Monday night.

GA: Georgia Sullivan (FNAE) – Sullivan played the full game and provided a lot of the spark for the Roos offence while scoring 13 goals. Worked really well with her teammates forming good combinations.

WA: Keely Warcon (Runaways) – It doesn’t matter where you put her, you know you’re going to get effort and consistency from Warcon. Started the match at C and made a few key defensive plays before moving to GS, GA and WA throughout the game.

C: Mischa Oliver (Phoenix) – Was extremely active in a hard-fought game against the Roos, bringing pace and power to the mid-court. Played half the game at centre and half at wing attack.

WD: Imogen Everson (Runaways) – It looked like Everson was playing with real purpose and she outmatched anyone that she went up against.

GD: Samantha Brown (Highlanders) – Read the play like a book and played with a frenetic intensity. Brown and Emily Prescott were both huge in defence.

GK: Alyssa Golding (Runaways) – Golding is always active, athletic and disruptive and she claims rebounds with authority. Was a big reason Runaways held Burdekin to 29 goals.

SUB: Meghan Marbelli (Phoenix)

SUB: Lasharna Oswin (Neptunes)

SUB: Emily Prescott (Highlanders)

SUB: Jenna Green (Saints)

SUB: Tenisha Solomon (FNAE)

Originally published as Premier League netball Townsville: Saints rise to top while Roos score third win