Hunter Hopes Crash As Thunderbirds Run Riot

Newcastle Herald

Monday July 2, 2007

By RENEE VALENTINE

THE Hunter Jaegers' dreams of playing in a national netball league finals series all but evaporated yesterday when they lost 58-42 to the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

It is possible mathematically for the Jaegers to finish fourth in their final campaign, but they would have to win all three remaining games, hope the Thunderbirds and the Queensland Firebirds do not win again this season then still rely on goal difference.

It was a familiar story for Jaegers coach Jon Fletcher yesterday, watching on as five-minute lapses of concentration cost his side.

"It was disappointing because I didn't think we played as well as we could have," Fletcher said.

"In the second quarter we had another lapse and that hurt us badly.

"The finals are pretty much gone now, but that was not necessarily our aim. We were here to improve this year, and I didn't see enough improvement today."

The Thunderbirds led 12-9 at the first break then scored five unanswered goals at the end of the second quarter to balloon their advantage to 27-17 by half-time.

Fletcher made several changes at the main break, and the Jaegers responded with a dominant first five minutes of the third period to close the gap to five goals. But they could not sustain the pressure, and Adelaide replied with a string of goals and were up 42-31 heading into the final quarter.

The Thunderbirds found another gear in the last period and outscored the Jaegers by five goals to keep themselves in touch with the top four.

The Jaegers' shooting statistics were not as flattering as they have been they converted only 72 per cent of their chances, compared with Adelaide's 83 per cent.

Highlights for the Jaegers were the efforts of circle defenders Emma Koster and Maryanne Hamilton and wing defence Jane Menzies.

"I thought, particularly in the first half, our back circle was doing well, and that was the main positive today," Fletcher said.

"The other positives are that we keep getting to put younger girls out against top players, and I believe they are getting better for that.

"We're having a go, but we've just got to get better at what we do and make quicker decisions.

"We've still got three games to go, and by the end of the year we want to walk out of here with a good measure of improvement."

A season-best crowd of 2408 turned out yesterday for what was the Jaegers' second-last appearance at home. Their last home game will be on August 3 against the Firebirds, when Netball NSW will parade past and present Jaegers players.

The competition now goes into recess for four weeks.

The Jaegers' next game will be against the AIS Canberra Darters in Canberra on July 27.

Competition leaders Melbourne Phoenix beat the Melbourne Kestrels 56-46 on Saturday night.

On Friday night, Queensland defeated Perth 50-49 and the Sydney Swifts downed the Darters 63-49.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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