LIFE Studio will take momentum into the Orange Netball Association Toyota Cup semi-finals after a solid win over KWS Firsts on Saturday.
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The competition heavyweights were solid across the court in their 65-19 win over the students.
Life Studio captain Mardi Aplin was pleased to see her team’s training paying off on the court.
“I was really happy with it. We had a few things we’d been working on at training, and to be able to see it actually work was good,” Aplin smiled.
Aplin led the charge in the opening quarter with 13 goals to help her side to an 18-5 lead.
Kinross made a strong start in the second quarter and their defence restricted Life Studio to 13 goals and a 31-11 margin at the main break.
The students stepped up their game in the third period and showed they weren’t afraid of the physicality and kept their more experienced rivals to 12 goals and a 43-17 scoreline.
However, Life Studio showed their class in the final stanza, scoring 22 goals and restricting Kinross to just two.
“We’ve been working hard on, not just our circle defence, but our full-court press,” Aplin explained.
“Anything we’ve worked on, it was really nice to be able to use it and it worked.”
It was Kinross’ final game for the season and meant they finished sixth on the ladder with four wins and a draw from 13 games.
“They did play very well,” Kinross coach Janet Martin said of her team’s final match for the year.
“I’m really proud of the girls. They’ve improved all season. They’re just gelling more as a team.
“It was a good game to finish the season.”
Kinross shooters Sophia Cassimatis and Nikki Collins performed well under the pressure put on them by Life Studio defenders Em Brotherton and Sheryll Selwood.
Life Studio will take on minor premiers Robin Hood Orange Glass in this Saturday’s major semi-final.
The two sides have met in the last five division one grand finals with Robin Hood winning all of them.
Aplin said that only inspired her team.
“I pretty much said to them we haven’t won a grand final in however many years, so basically what we’re doing is not working, hence why we needed to change,” she explained.
“I want to get us to the grand final. We’re taking each game as it comes, so whatever happens next week happens. My main thing is to keep my team to the structures we put out there today and hopefully it will all come together in a few week’s time.”
CYMS Gladiators goal shooter Beth Curtin and goal attack Tara Nagle produced a master class in accuracy in their team’s 72-43 win against Hawks Ace Drilling.
The Western Region Academy Of Sport graduates combined brilliantly to nail 68 straight goals between them before Nagle broke the streak with their only miss of the match.
Curtin was flawless, shooting 49 from 49, and her Orange under 15 state age teammate Nagle bagged 23 goals from 24 attempts.
With Royal Hawks’ 43-35 win against High A extinguishing Gladiators’ slim semi-final hopes, the schoolgirls finished the season fifth. Hawks and High A will meet again in the elimination semi-final.
In Saturday’s other Toyota Cup match, Robin Hood Orange Glass cruised to an 83-25 win over LS DVM Embroidery.