Kestrels get season back on track

The Melbourne Kestrels righted their season, when they defeated the Perth Orioles 65-52 at the Waverley Netball Centre tonight.

With the Kestrels struggling for consistency so far this season, a win over the Orioles, who have surprised so this season, would put Melbourne into the four.

In the first quarter, both sides went goal for goal but the Kestrels scored five goal unanswered goals early in the second when they outplayed a strong Orioles midcourt which included Australian player Jess Shynn. The Kestrels led at the main break 31-22.

The second half featured some aggressive defensive work by Melbourne co-captain Rebecca Strachan and Brooke Thompson in the back half as the Orioles tried to get themselves back into the match.

Caitlin Thwaites had a superb match inside the circle, shooting 48 goals from 52 attempts at 92% accuracy, which should see her included in the Australian squad for the 21 and under series against New Zealand.

Bianca Franklin (14/15 at 93%) played one of her best games for the Kestrels and Andrea Booth (3/5 at 60%) was the third goaler used.

Kate Beveridge (18/22 at 82%) was the best performed goaler for the Orioles and Jasmine Keene (13/17 at 76%) showed plenty of promise in her first Commonwealth Bank Trophy match. Catilin Bassett (21/30 at 70%) had another consistent performance.

Best on court for the Kestrels was Thwaites, who played her best game on the year at goal shooter, after being forced to play second option to the departed Cynna Kydd last year and starting virtually each match on the bench.

For the Orioles, Helen Aravidis was relentless in the midcourt playing with plenty of speed and determination as she led by example in a losing team.

Kestrels coach, Jane Searle was happy to win after struggling recently.

“(I’m) very happy to get the win over Perth, considering they beat us the first time around.”

Searle was impressed with the improvement shown after her players put in a poor performance against the Orioles earlier in the season.

“We really showed how much we have improved against them and we made them look pretty ordinary in the second and third quarters.”

Thwaites didn’t harm chances of playing in the 21 and under team.

Searle believes the selection panel will take note of this performance.

“She will give it a good shake and has played really well in the last few rounds. You can’t really ignore 48 from 52 at 92%.”

Defensive pressure has been another thing that Searle has wanted to see more of and she was pleased with the pressure applied tonight.

“That’s the key as far we are considered, the defensive pressure we put on all over the court and consistently getting those turnovers was great for us.”

Next Friday night the Kestrels take on the Queensland Firebirds at the Waverley Netball Centre and the Orioles host the Sydney Swifts at Challenge Stadium.

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