Netball: Indifferent start has Dumbarton Harp girls under pressure

Nov 21 2008 by Laura McLachlan, Lennox Herald (main ed)

DUMBARTON Harp were punished for their slow start by a skilful St Stephen’s side last week.

The Dumbarton girls couldn’t get their engine revving in the first quarter, as St Stephen’s bombarded them with goals from the start.

Harp were 10 goals down by the end of the first quarter and had to do an entire re-shuffle of the team to avoid a complete disaster.

Louise Cleary was plucked from her usual goal defence position role to partner up with Alana Gillies at the opposite end of the court.

The reshuffle proved a success, with the new shooting duo breaking up St Stephen’s double marking strategy thanks to Louise’s added height.

Suddenly there was more space available and the shooters had more opportunity on goal.

Louise's efforts in this match highlighted her talent and versatility on court even managing to net a few shots herself.

The Dumbarton girls managed to pull themselves back into the match with a run of goals in the second and third quarters, determined to put up a fight and keep up their efforts going right to the final whistle.

Praise should also be given to newcomer Lindsey King, who has shown great commitment to the team and who played her best match this season as goal keeper.

Harp kept their heads up and played with spirit to the final whistle but it just wasn’t enough to make up the deficit St Stephen’s had built up in the early stages of the match.

Harp: A Gillies, L Cleary, M Cleary, L King, M Hegarty, N Devine, A Murray, P McNab.