Federal, Wests in need of player returns in Alice Springs netball

The top two KFC A-grade netball teams Federal Trusty Glass and Wests Gillen Club will be looking forward to players returning for their 3pm clash in the stadium on Saturday at the Pat Gallagher Netball Centre in Alice Springs.

Federal’s Dana Schembri’s return will make her team a better side. Picture: CHARLIE LOWSON

The top two KFC A-grade netball teams Federal Trusty Glass and Wests Gillen Club will be looking forward to players returning for their 3pm clash in the stadium on Saturday at the Pat Gallagher Netball Centre in Alice Springs.

Understandable, both struggled last week with Federal losing, for the first time this season, to Seasons Complete Fencing & Steel Sales while Wests drew with Rovers Complete Construction after trailing for most of the match.

Federal will lose Ruby Farthing for the rest of the season and will still be without Tahlia Lee and probably Caitlin Rourke as if she plays more A-grade games she will be upgraded and not able to play in her A Reserve team.

But the returns of Dana Schembri, Jorja Weily, Sophie Gaynor or Ashlea van Luenen will certainly make Federal a better side.

Wests would like to have Jess Kittle and Carlee Brearton out wearing the red and black uniform again.

The outcome of the game will be decided by which team manages to best get players back.

Two of the Federal players are centre courters where games are often won or lost depending on their creativity with the ball and defence when they don’t have the ball.

Good ball work creates opportunities for the team’s shooters to score.

While defensive pressure makes it harder for the opposition to score.

Wests regaining shooter Jess Kittle and defender Carlee Brearton will strengthen the ends but the team goes into this game without Chelsea Mifsud.

Her absence will place more responsibility on hard working captain Katie Hannah.

With the return of Kittle and Brearton, Iesha Smith could be released from playing in either of the circles to help in the centre court.

Federal could be forced to use premier shooter Teagan Hatzimihail in defence but teaming Gaynor with Simone Tribe could net a winning score.

This result of this game is not going to alter the ladder positions of either team but it does have significance leading into the finals in four weeks’ time.

Both teams can use it as a dress rehearsal for the second semi final with the winner going directly into the grand final while the loser will have to try and qualify through the preliminary final.

Seasons centre Jada Pomare jumps in a bid to block the pass by opponent Shannan King. Pictures: MATT HENDERSON

Duo’s return to give Rovers winning edge

The return of Shannan King and Teagan McClure to the Rovers Complete Fencing team will give them the winning edge against Seasons Complete Fencing & Steel Sales in their KFC A-grade netball clash on Saturday at 4.30pm.

Rovers managed to hold out a challenge from an undermanned Wests Gillen Club to draw the game while Seasons defeated the previously unbeaten Federal Trusty Glass.

The towering presence of shooter Mai Segi in the attack circle is the major threat to a Rovers victory.

Rovers have managed to contain Segi in past meetings with defenders Tracey Meekings and McClure double teaming her.

But his is a dangerous tactic as it frees up Bec Miller who can do a lot of damage if left unattended.

There is an intriguing contest at the Rovers attack end where four of the town’s promising youngsters will clash.

Seasons' duo Janaya Kopp and Keialah Satour are a little older than Rovers’ shooters Molly Southam and Piper Nicolai.

King’s return to the centre court will take a lot of the pressure off teen dynamo Lucy Nicolai and they form a lethal combination for defences with support from Sherelle Dowell and Brooke Rayner.

Seasons have a blend of experience and youth in their centre court with Nikki Marsh, Keeley Thomas and Jada Pomare.

This game will be an enthralling struggle between defence (Rovers) and attack and goalscoring of Season, who could get win number two.