WAIS Top of the Smarter than Smoking Premier League

The WAIS netball team has hit the top of the WA Smarter than Smoking premier League after it defeated the Costal Sharks 46-40 in a performance full of courage.

The WAIS squad had been hampered by injury and illness in the lead up to the top of the table clash with Coastal, but Wilkins’ (WAIS coach Michelle Wilkins) blooded a couple of young players who adapted well to the team ethos, continuing the squads impressive form in 2009.

WAIS made a slow start in the first quarter and it had appeared early that the squad disruptions might affect the side’s performance, but the players managed to overturn the unforced error count that had them trailing and produced a solid final five minutes to give WAIS a first break lead of one goal.

This surge proved pivotal as WAIS went on to win each quarter en route to a victory that sees the Institute side leading the competition at the culmination of round one.

Wilkins was delighted with effort displayed by her squad both defensively and offensively, but speculated her group would be game target in the second half of the season.

“The girls maintained a steady application to game plan which was highlighted by defensive pressure applied by Mia Washbourne and Alice Coakley,” Wilkins said. “Sarah East was outstanding at goal attack and she really took control of the young WAIS attack, finishing with 91% shooting accuracy with 31/34 shots.”

“WAIS now sits on top of the Premier League ladder and whilst we’re happy with that, I am sure all teams will come hard at us in round two,” said Wilkins.

In other netball news:

Netball Australia has released its squad that will compete in the World Youth Cup in the Cook Islands in August.

The squad contains four WAIS scholarship holders in Caitlin Bassett, Andrea Gilmore, Madison Browne and Shae Bolton. The quartet have all been in good form in 2009 for the West Coast Fever in the ANZ Championship.