M-League & Breeding Comets

M-League
The PV Comets mixed netball team won the division 1 premiership last season and are back again this season to reclaim the title.
Jaz and Brit head up the defensive line, while Ciara, Matt and Kate run the center court and finishing it off in goals is Juls and Rohan.

Match Reports
Round 1

PV Comets V Metro Revelers
We won 54 – 36

Round one of the new season of M-League saw PV Comets unleash their new look, a new uniform on a newly formed Metro Revelers team.
The 1st quarter started hectically with both teams struggling to control the ball and settle back into a mixed form of the game after over 6 months off. PV Comets defensive end settled first with Britt (GD) and Jaz (GK) getting on top of the Metro goalers early and Ciara (WD) providing plenty of pressure and vocal support outside the ring.
Halfway through the 1st quarter PV Comets attack end kicked into gear with the new combination of Julia (GA) and Rohan (GS) sorting out their rotation and the ball being feed with confidence from both Kate (WA) and Matt (C). Comets went into the first break with a handy lead.

Metro came out firing in the 2nd quarter determined to show that they will not be beaten easily and with a couple of changes managed to shake up the Comets line up. The first half of the second quarter saw Metro control the ball and seemingly click onto the movements of our attack, which at times became stagnant. Comets, to their credit, back to go into the half time break still holding a comfortable lead.

In the final half of netball it was a continual tussle with Metro making changes in an effort to further shake up Comets. Every time they threatened Comets responded and continued to increase the lead each time. Comets finished off the game taking their foot off the pedal slightly but in a comfortable position.

Well done to all.

Player of the match: Britt Harrison

Round 2

PV Comets V Dromanarama
We won 47 – 46

Coming off a nice win in the first round, Comets came out with confidence in the 1st quarter, building a healthy lead against a consistent Dromanarama side. Comets started the line up in the same fashion from the 1st round proving to be a strong and team orientated line up.

The 2nd quarter saw changes made from the Dromanarama side bringing on a more experienced and formidable centre opponent for Matt. This had an immediate impact in the Dromanarama game delivering consistent attack, hitting the ring each time and with more efficient feeding. Comets responded to the challenge and began the fight to hold onto a lead with the game becoming faster and played under a much higher pressure. Our midcourt and attack continued in the same game from 1st quarter which the Dromanarama defence had switched onto and began to break down our attempts to penetrate onto the ring. Comets went into the half time break still holding onto a slimmer lead.

With determination to not be a side that can't build a lead and maintain it Comets headed out into the 3rd quarter with more focus. Turnovers were hard come by in the defence end but when successful they came from pure defence commitment and teamwork. Again the ball struggled to be moved through our midcourt and into our attack with attempts being thwarted and a mood of frustration setting into the Comets team.

With minor changes made Comets headed out into the final quarter with only a lead of 3 goals. In what seemed to be a quarter that went forever the lead began to see-saw as Dromanarama hit the front for the first time but could not maintain it as the Comets continued to fight for every ball. Rotation seemed to break down in the attack end but pure persistence and some creative passes and body work continued to keep the goals coming for Comets. Dromanarama's attack as consistent as it was all game started to see some errors of tiredness creep in which Comets capitalised on sneaking away with a 1 goal win.

Looking ahead the Comets need to be able to change up their side and provide a consistent 4 quarters so they don't let games slip.

Player of the match: Kate Butler

Round 3

PV Comets - BYE

Round 4
PV Comets V Yarra Jive Turkeys
We lost 53 - 56

The tone for tonights game was RUSH RUSH RUSH with 3 of the 7 players arriving late to the stadium. The game started in the same fashion with Comets starting with 6 players having Ciara start C, Kate joining Rohan in the ring at GA and Matt (a little under the weather) in WA. Julia soon joined in at WD but the Comets failed to settle in the first quarter allowing Yarra to get away to a handy lead and getting a mental edge over the Comets team going into the 1st break with a lead of 7.

Heading out into the 2nd quarter the Comets knew they had a tough night ahead of them. Changes were made with Julia moving back into GA to return to our normal goaling line up, Ciara moved back into WD and Kate debuted in her first C game. From the first whistle of the 2nd quarter the Comets digged the teeth into Yarra and worked hard to let them not push the margin out any further, getting the margin back to within 2 before the final 5 minutes where Yarra got back into their groove pushing the margin back out to 7.

Halftime talks were centred around Comets knowing they have what it takes to get into this game; moving Matt back into C and Kate into WA, headed out onto the court ready for another physical 15 minutes. Again the Comets started well pushing Yarra all the way, our defence tried hard to force the errors in the Yarra goal circle but the Yarra goalers seemingly managed to find space using their speed and bodies to get the ball into their ring. Comets attack end were working equally as hard trying to keep us in the game putting up shot after shot and applying great defensive pressure causing plenty of turnovers as the Yarra team tried to get the ball out of their defence. Comets managed to gel together for the final 5 minutes of the quarter cutting the Yarra lead to 4 as Comets headed into the final change.

With Matt and Kate both swapping again Comets went out into the final quarter with one goal and one goal only. Beat this Yarra side by consistency and controlled netball; especially every ball that resulted from a turnover. The whistle went and the last quarter began and straight away... the Comets lost their centre. Determined to not let this go the team got vocal, got supportive and worked every bit of the court and used every bit of aggression and energy to begin controlling the game. Turnovers finally begun to come and the ball was being worked down into the attack end. All it took was a couple of quick bad passes, going against the coaches words and trying to move to fast without hitting the ring and those turnovers became wasted. Comets fought with everything they had and almost had it, but time was not on our side going down to a very skilled Yarra team.

Recording our first loss but feeling pretty good after a great fight back from a shocking first quarter the Comets now need to build on their consistency and learn to control the pace of the game.

Best Player: Rohan Noonan

Round 5
PV Comets v Melb Uni
We Won 47-33

The Comets returned to the court firing after their first loss of the season last week. Sadly the inconsistency in the team continued.The Comets managed to stay on top of Melb Uni for the entire game with patches of brilliant play followed up by a few minutes of a loss of concentration.
A tough game was put in from all players with the defensive line up working overtime as passes seem to go astray in the attacking end causing plenty of turnovers. The Comets will need to work on this consistency in play before matching up against tougher opponents
No player of the match awarded.

Round 6
PV Comets v Rebels
We Won 74 - 26

The Comets entered the match with a point to prove this week. Coach Jaz was fired up after a less than impressive game the week before and had some stern words with the players before the 1st quarter.
This game was not going to be a real challenge however the players were told to play to a set method for the 1st quarter. Calls of "come forward to the ball" could be heard all throughout the court as Jaz's directions were taken out onto the court and applied with empathic fashion. Due to Ciara's absence this week and new inclusion was brought in in Blaze Div 1 midcourt/goaler Sarah Hogan joining the team in WA. She impressed with effecient driving to the ring and direct leads and with some fabulous feeding into Rohan and Juls. Comets ran out the quarter brilliantly and controlled the ball all quarter.

The 2nd quarter was again a quarter with a specific instruction. Look long, go long where possible and open up play in the court. Again the team went out with a goal and achieved it, opening up the play and getting a smooth running game going. After a very controlled 1st quarter Matt Blomeley was allowed to open up and fed some great ball from the midcourt to the ring in his position in WD. Kate continued to impress at both ends of the court running down her opponent in the Centre. As the game opened up so too did the goals fall through with Juls dominating in the ring.

In the 3rd the team was allowed some changes in an effort to shake up our line up. Rohan moved out of goals and into WD, Britt moved from GD into C, Sarah moved from WA into GD, Kate from C into WA and Matt slotted into GA to feed Juls. After the changes the message again was to control the play and come forward to the ball. The team adapted well to the changes remaining on top of the Rebels.

The final quarter saw a few more changes with Kate moving into goals and Juls out to WA. Rohan moved back into defence and Jaz moved out to WD. Comets continued to apply pressure throughout the game however as the final whistle approached they relaxed a bit and allowed Rebels to score some goals and control some play.

Player of the match: Julia Knott

Round 7
PV Comets (65) def Yarra Jets (41)
Finally the match up of the top two teams came around. Again traffic played its part with all players seemingly running late but with both Jarrad and Rohan missing the 1st quarter. Andrew W and Eli quickly took up the opportunity from the sidelines to help out and filled in the missing pairs place. Whatever happened over those 1st 15 minutes seemed to work with the Comets going into the first break level with the Jets after trailing with 5 minutes to go.
The boys were thanked and Jaz and Ro returned to their normal positions and the Comets headed into the 2nd quarter with determination to take the game up a couple of notches. The 2nd quarter started at a frantic pace with both attack ends firing and at times just firing a bit too hard. Comets settled first and began to control the game all over the court. The defense trio of Ciara, Jaz and Brit were making it hard for the Jets to get any penetration into their ring and our attack end find their pace and the brilliant feeding from Matt and Kate into Julia and Ro continued with both goalers starting to dominate in air and with pace on the ground. Comets went into the half time break with a handy lead.
Never a team to look back the Comets headed into the second half determined not to let their hard work slip. Changes were made bringing a sore and sorry Ciara (long week at Teachers Games) into WA and bringing Kate into C and Matt back to WD. Comets continued to push on, playing a very open attack line which suited the fast movements of Ro and allowed for some breathtaking feeding to Juls who was holding a perfect open space. In the last the Comets went out to make sure they sealed the deal eyeing off top spot. Kate moved into GA to keep her fresh with Juls moving out to WA. Relation started to creep into the Comets game, but it was too late for Jets to mount any kind of comeback. A well executed game of netty.
Best Player: Kate Butler

Round 8
PV Comets def Metro Revelers by 4
A new look team took the court for the start of the new round with Comets taking on the Revelers. With Ciara away overseas, Juls away at Indoor Nationals and Brit busy with Uni the team called on some of it's country reserves with Jenna Noonan (Ro's sister) and Lindsay Boddy pulling on the skirts. Sarah Hogan also made a return appearance after enjoying her first game out.  As with any new combination it was a bit of a shaky start for the Comets with Revelers getting in front early. Comets began to settle and work hard to deliver the ball into the ring closing the gap to only 3 at the first break.
The team remained the same heading into the 2nd quarter with Comets starting to win some battles but definitely not getting it all their own way. Revelers were finding the post way too easily as Jaz and Lindsay struggled to find the right defensive tactic to stem the flow of the ball. Jenna (C), Sarah (WA) and Kate (GA) were working hard to get the ball into the attack end but seemed to find it hard to find a rhythm to get the ball onto the ring and find a nice easy pass into Ro. Comets worked hard in the quarter, fighting for everything with Matt providing some stunning turnovers in the midcourt the Comets started to work their way back into the match, still trailing at half time.
Changes were made with Matt heading into C, Jenna coming back to WD, Kate moving into WA and Ro and Sarah taking up the goaling positions. During the 3rd quarter the changes proved to be effective, Jenna started to irk the Revelers attack with her consistent attempts for the ball, Linds and Jaz finally sorted out some defense, Sarah and Ro combined amazingly and that left Kate open to hit the ring and deliver some beautiful ball. Comets went into the last change finally in the lead only by 1.
Revelers were not going to let the match go without and fight and came out firing in the last quarter. Sarah stepped up (despite a niggling knee problem) and provide great drive in the midcourt and put up some beautiful shots in the quarter. Well supported by Ro the Comets managed to maintain the lead in the last to run away with a close but well deserved win.
Best Player: Sarah Hogan

Round 9
PV Comets def Dromanarama by 3
With Ciara still away, Juls still sore from the previous week at Indoor and Matt overseas it was another jumbled lot that took the court. Jenna resumed her spot in the side and Melanie also joined the group to help out Ro in the ring. Jamie Maher also gave us his best in replace for Matt. And what a game this one turned out to be.  From the first whistle the intentions of Dromanarama team seemed quite clear, it was going to be a physical challenge. Jaz and Brit copped it first with the attackers muscling (or contacting some would say) their way into the match to put Dromanarama into the lead. It again took a while for the Comets to get into the match still shocked by the beginning of the match the team came together to begin to fight their way back into the match. However the damage was done and Comets went into the first change trailing and fully aware that one end of the court was going to be very interesting with Umpiring.
The Comets kept the same line up and headed out into the 2nd quarter after venting some frustration at quarter time. Comets found their feet and started to build their fightback from defense with Jenna easily frustrating her WA and Jamie pushing opens player Julian for everything he had in C. Brit began her capitalization of the turnovers and began to take control in the ring. Jaz bit down hard and pushed through the pain of his tweaked ankle to put some pressure over shots and move the shooter around. The frustration of the Comets team towards some decisions was evident and at times seem to overrun their normal playing style. Comets went into the half still trailing.
Words were said, changes were made and the Comets came out with a point to prove and a game to win. They set their mind to a task, put the officials out of their heads and worked the behinds off. Brit stepped up to another level in this quarter and dominated in defense and in midcourt. Jenna well and truly had her WA beaten. Ro had moved back to GS and began to dominate with some brilliant goals and excellent body work. Mel, Kate and Jamie combined well to begin providing some great passage of plays into the attack. Comets finally got on top and did not look back despite many injuries to the Dromanarama team by the Comets just being 100% dedicated to the ball. Comets went into the last change in front, refreshed and ready for the final term.
In the last Dromanarama gave the Comets everything that they had but to the Comets credit they remained committed to a win and nothing else. Despite a 5 minute lapse at the start of the quarter calls started to go the way of the Comets and the team continued to work hard at maintaining possession and getting turnovers in the midcourt. Brit continued her domination in the GD bib plucking turnovers out of mid air and giving her opponent a headache and Jamie continued his endless running in the midcourt providing options the whole way down. The time ran slowly down and so too did the chances for Dromanarama with Comets clinching the win in what seemed like a grand final match to the team.
Best Player: Brit Harrison