ANA 2024: Denmark Magpies 1 outlast spirited Kangas 1 in thrilling one-goal A1 victory in NAIDOC Round

Denmark Magpies 1 remain top of the Albany Netball Association A1 ladder after defeating a spirited Kangas 1 in a gripping one-goal thriller in the NAIDOC Round on Saturday. The Magpies were hot early, launching to a seven-goal advantage at the first break, led superbly by the agile Brittany Finigan who converted all 10 of her first-quarter shots. Lauren Bracewell was huge in the defensive circle for the Magpies, quelling Kangas’ star shooter Shanaya Weeden’s impact in the opener while wing defence Lucia Edwards provided brilliant outlet options in transition from defensive to offence. Kangas’ versatile tall Keely Berry was switched into goalkeeper in the second term to sure up their defence and the move proved pivotal. They restricted the Magpies to just six goals through the second quarter while scoring 12 themselves to cut the margin to just one goal at the main break. With scores locked at 30 goals apiece leading into the final stanza, the Magpies clawed their way to the 40-39 victory to register their fifth-straight win. Kaitlyn Bradley and Weeden formed a reliable partnership inside the defensive circle after quarter-time and Sophie Panizza partnered Berry well after quarter-time. Bullets 1 eased past Railways 1 courtesy of a destructive second half in which they outscored their opponents by 29 goals to post their third-straight victory. Despite trailing by one goal at quarter-time and only leading at the half by the barest of margins, Bullets flexed their muscles in the third term, pounding on 17 goals and conceding just three on their way to the resounding 61-31 win. Bullets continued their dominance in the last term, scoring another 19 goals while keeping Railways to four goals on their way to the 30-goal victory. Royals Saints 1 handed Griffins 1 a 24-goal hiding courtesy of an electrifying first half, strolling to a 63-39 triumph. The Saints were devastatingly accurate in the opener with 17 goals to Griffins’ nine before adding another 14 goals in the second term to open up a 14-goal halftime lead. They continued to extend their margin steadily over the remaining two terms to secure the impressive win and strengthen their grip on the top four. Narrikup 1 were the biggest winners of round 10 with a 40-goal victory over Bethel 1. Narrikup’s class proved too much for Bethel to contend with and Narrikup took an early 12-goal lead into the opening break. A determined Bethel fought back with a 10-goal second quarter before Narrikup surged away to the 70-30 win. The ANA will have a general bye for the Great Southern Regional Netball Championships in Albany this weekend.