Triumph Lifts Jaegers For League Swan Song

Newcastle Herald

Monday July 30, 2007

By NEIL GOFFET

THE Jaegers' 54-49 victory over the AIS Darters last Friday night provided the perfect lift for Hunter players as the national netball league franchise prepares to farewell Newcastle in style this Friday.

The Jaegers will play their last game ever at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre against the Queensland Firebirds. Next year a new trans-Tasman competition will come into play with only one team from NSW represented.

That team will be based out of Sydney, ending Newcastle's four-year involvement in the national league.

The Jaegers lost their last six matches heading into a four-week lay-off in July. A place in the semi-finals is out of reach, but Friday's win was just what the young side needed to lift for the Firebirds.

"It was good to see a lot of smiles on the girls' faces after the game because it has been a tough run recently," Jaegers captain Jane Menzies said yesterday.

"I think this Friday is going to be quite an emotional night, even though it has only been four years, because there is a lot of history and a lot of memories. We are hoping for a really big crowd and that we can do our bit to help the occasion by beating the Firebirds."

Menzies believed the nature of their 54-49 win was also beneficial.

"I think we went down there thinking we could win, but you never want to be overconfident because that's when you lose," Menzies said.

The Jaegers had only lost once to the Darters in seven matches heading into Friday's game. The home side boasted just one win this season, over the Perth Orioles.

In matches yesterday, the Queensland Firebirds kept their finals hopes alive with a 61-54 win over hosts Melbourne Kestrels.

Phoenix stretched their lead in the series to four points with a 54-46 win at home over the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

It was a mixed round 12 for the Thunderbirds, who defeated the second-last Perth Orioles 58-43 last Friday at home.

The Sydney Swifts moved to outright second with Friday night's 62-34 thumping of the Firebirds.

Pointscore: Melbourne Phoenix 20, Sydney Swifts 18, Melbourne Kestrels, Queensland Firebirds 14, Adelaide Thunderbirds 12, Hunter Jaegers 8, Perth Orioles 6, AIS Darters 2.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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