Thunderbirds Thread

[Dogwatcher]

First win

WEEK 2 - COMMONWEALTH BANK TROPHY 2007

GAME RESULT
Medibank Adelaide Thunderbirds (59) defeated McDonald's Hunter Jaegers (42)

GAME REPORT

by Marcus Wilson, Sportal

The Medibank Adelaide Thunderbirds have recorded their first win of the season, beating the McDonalds Hunter Jaegers 59-42 at ETSA Park on Friday.

The Thunderbirds led at every change and won every quarter, but never overwhelmed their opposition despite the big margin.

In a scrappy contest, Adelaide produced enough good passages of play to string plenty of goals together while Hunter’s game involved too many ambitious passes and silly turnovers.

Natalie Medhurst produced an excellent four-quarter effort with 41 goals (93 %) and Amanda Martin came off the bench and had 11 goals in the second half.

Kristen Hughes’ poor early-season form continued - she scored just seven goals at 20 at 35 per cent.

Thunderbirds centre Natalie von Bertouch and defender Bianca Reddy also enjoyed solid hit outs while Laura van Bertouch was part of the centre-court efforts before being benched at half time.

Jaegers’ goal shooter Alex Harding had a good battle with Reddy and finished with 21 goals from 25 attempts but she needed more support from the other shooters. Tiffany Lincoln was the next best with 12 goals (70%).

Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst said she was pleased the team could finish the contest strongly.

“We had some really, really good passages of play and some not so good, so we need to work at converting on all turnovers and just executing our skills better,” Obst said.

“I think we did execute better than them and I think our fitness showed out at the end - we ran the game out well especially in the third quarter.”

Jaegers coach Jon Fletcher described the performance as “a bit up and down” and said his players did not take on the Thunderbirds’ defence enough.

However, he drew some positives from the contest.

“We are not too disappointed, we got a chance to give a couple more girls their first National League game and we showed, certainly in patches, that we can do some good stuff - we’ve just got to be a bit more consistent right through the game,” he said.

“We used the ball better last week, some of our execution, particularly in the front end of the court – yeah we coughed the ball up a little bit.”

Adelaide dominated the first quarter despite the mixed fortunes of its goalers - Medhurst missed just one goal while Hughes struggled for touch - and opened up a seven-goal, 13-6, edge at the first change.

The Jaegers made four changes and surged back into contention in the second quarter but turnovers at critical stages meant they missed two chances to draw within three points.

Adelaide held its opposition at arm’s length but was facing its own problems. Hughes continued to struggle in the goal circle and was shooting at only 50 per cent.

Medhurst remained accurate however and the T-Birds held a 27-18 buffer at the long break.

Obst rested Hughes and Laura von Bertouch in the third term with Martin coming off the bench to play goal attack while Kirby Mutton was thrown into wing attack.

The change in attack worked with Martin and Medhurst providing a more effective attacking combination.

The Jaegers provided some early resistance – Harding continued her strong game with eight goals from nine attempts – but the overall pressure of the home side shone through to take a 42-29 lead into the last change.

Hunter continued to compete hard in the final change, but the Thunderbirds superior fitness was evident and they were able to extend their lead, scoring 17 goals to 13 in the last quarter.

Scoreboard
Thunderbirds 59 (Natalie Medhurst 41/44 at 93%, Kristen Hughes 7/20 at 35%, Amanda Marti 11/14 at 78%)
Jaegers 42 (Alex Harding 21/25 at 84%, Lara Welham 1/4 at 25%, Tiffany Lincoln 12/17 at 70%, Karyn Bailey 8/11 72%)

1/4 by 1/4:
Thunderbirds 13, 27, 42, 59
Jaegers 6, 18, 29, 42

Thunderbirds
GS Kristen Hughes
GA Natalie Medhurst
WA Laura von Bertouch (co-captain)
C Natalie von Bertouch
WD Peta Scholz (co-captain)
GD Fiona Pointon
GK Bianca Reddy

Emily Beaton
Mandy Edwards
Jane Fitzgerald
Amanda Martin
Kirby Mutton

Jaegers
GS Alex Harding
GA Lara Welham
WA Narelle Eather
C Kirby Bentley
WD Jane Menzies (captain)
GD Jessica Mansell
GK Emma Koster

Tiffany Lincoln
Maryann Hamilton
Kim Borger
Karyn Bailey
Lauren Russell

STATISTICS


Medibank Adelaide Thunderbirds
Scores Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
13 27 42 59
Player Goals %Avg
Natalie Medhurst 41/44 93%
Amanda Martin 11/14 79%
Kristen Hughes 7/20 35%

Team 59/78 76%
Positions
Emily Beaton - - - -
Mandy Edwards - - - -
Jane Fitzgerald - - GD GD
Kristen Hughes GS GS - -
Amanda Martin - - GA GA
Natalie Medhurst GA GA GS GS
Kirby Mutton - - WA WA
Fiona Pointon GD GD/- - -
Bianca Reddy GK GK GK GK
Peta Scholz WD WD WD WD
Laura von Bertouch WA WA - -
Natalie von Bertouch C C C C

McDonald's Hunter Jaegers
Scores Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
6 18 29 42
Player Goals %Avg
Alexandra Harding 21/25 84%
Tiffany Lincoln 12/17 71%
Karyn Bailey 8/11 73%
Lara Welham 1/4 25%
Team 42/57 74%
Positions
Karyn Bailey - - - GS
Kirby Bentley C - - C
Kimberly Borger - - - -
Narelle Eather WA C C -
Maryanne Hamilton - -/GD GD -
Alexandra Harding GS GS GS -
Emma Koster GK GK GK GD
Tiffany Lincoln - GA GA GA
Jessica Mansell GD GD/- - -
Jane Menzies WD WD WD WD
Lauren Russell - - - GK
Lara Welham GA WA WA WA

[another grub]

Amanda Martin should be left at GA..... she is the best option there ...but continually gets left on the bench..... not good enough.....

[Thiele]

Tonight

Melbourne Kestrals 51
Adelaide Thunderbirds 50