Live stream: South East Suns v Devon, Tasmanian Netball League, Round 8

A difficult season just got a whole lot tougher as the Suns plummeted to a new point-scoring season low as Devon cruised to victory - and it wasn’t their only game to forget. Relive the action.

An undermanned South East Suns have sunk to a new season low, scoring just 15 points in a heavy Tasmanian Netball League Opens defeat to Devon on Saturday.

The last-placed Suns had just seven players and quickly found themselves on the back foot as Devon raced out to a 14-2 quarter-time lead.

While Devon goalscorers Tyrah Bacon (21 goals), Erin Quillerat (10) and Grace Close (25) enjoyed their day’s work, the Suns got little joy on the offensive front, culminating in a disappointing three-goal final quarter.

Devon v SE Suns - (19-and-Under) - TNL Round 8

Due to unforseen technical issues, we missed the opening 10 minutes of the Suns v Devon U19 TNL match. We apologise for the inconvenience and will have a full replay available as soon as posible.

Earlier, the Suns also lost their U19 game to Devon heavily, 54-29, with a 16-6 run in the third quarter proving decisive.

PREVIEW

It’s easy to look at the win-loss column of the South East Suns and make assumptions of how the club is faring midway through its second year in the Tasmanian Netball League.

But for those willing to look a little deeper, Opens captain Alanna Cooper knows they’ll see a young group determined to build the foundations for long-term success of the competition’s newest franchise.

Those foundations are a week-to-week, game-to-game process and that continues when the Suns hit the road for an away game double this weekend.

CATCH THE BLUES v FLAMES STAY CHATTY ROUND CLASH LIVE ON SUNDAY

Things kick off on Saturday against Devon with that Premier League and Reserves double header live streamed exclusively on KommunityTV.

Currently sitting seventh on the ladder with a 0-6 record, Cooper says that people only need to take a look at their round six clash against finals contender Kingston as a sign of their development.

“I think we’re focusing a lot again on the process and I do feel like we are getting better as we go,” Cooper said.

Mackenzie Queen of South East Suns.

“It was really promising against Kingston. We really came out and hit the court running and applied what we had learnt as a team, so we’re really impressed by that.

“And we were really impressed by our defensive efforts against Cripps. We just need to start scoring now and I think that is a team effort as well because you’ve got to get it down the court to the goalies and we’ve got to actually feed it in as well. That’s a lot about decision making and that’s something that we’re really working on.

Joining the Suns ahead of their debut season last year, Cooper has again taken the reins as captain this year.

The 23 year-old took plenty of lessons out of her first year as captain and feels like it’s a role she’s continuing to feel more settled in with each passing game.

“It feels more comfortable,” she said.

“I do feel like I’ve worked my way into the club a bit more now, and I feel like the girls, although our team has changed a lot, have settled into the way I captain a team. It feels like I’ve established my role now.

South East Suns player Ella Booth.

“I think the main thing I’ve learned is just patience and trusting each other that we will get better. I really put the effort and emphasis on the team aspect that we’re going to build that culture and as we build that, we will all get better. And then we’ll start seeing the results on the scoreboard.”

With just six games to go before seasons’ end, the Suns are in a race against time to notch up a victory but while Cooper said they were “desperate” for a win, the focus on the long-term remained.

“It’s all about the foundation, about the culture, and about what we want to build,” she said.

“We know that we’re not going to get there within the first two, three, maybe even five seasons. But it’s about building that solid foundation and what we want to achieve and how we want to go about it and I think we’re really, really taking massive leaps forward with that.”

Originally published as Live stream: South East Suns v Devon, Tasmanian Netball League, Round 8