KEEP it safe, slow it down.
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That was the message Collegians Mystified coach Melissa Noonan gave her players at three-quarter-time when their Bathurst Netball Association A grade match against Panthers was on level terms.
Her players listened and went on to win yet another classic encounter with Panthers 38-32.
"The ball was getting pretty wet in that third quarter and we just didn't have enough options to the ball either, so two leads, we needed to make sure we had those options," Noonan said.
"Off our centre pass too, I thought we struggled a bit there too, there should be four options and if there's not, there's something wrong. So the message was just get out, get the ball and keep it safe."
The first meeting of the year between the 2019 grand finalists was decided by a single goal - Collegians prevailing 36-35. While the margin on Saturday was larger, the contest was still intense.
Collegians began the better of the pair as two early rebounds from goal defence Teagan Germech plus a smart turnover from goal keeper Sam Thompson helped their side out to a 6-1 lead.
Panthers responded - their goal defence Tailyaha Chatfield also forcing a pair of turnovers - and clawed back within three of the lead.
But another momentum shift followed and Collegians went to quarter-time with a 12-6 advantage.
For the second quarter Panthers injected Lily McIntosh as goal shooter and her combination with goal attack Jess Matthews and centre Hope Coombes saw that advantage whittled away.
When in possession, Panthers drove quickly through centre court and found it easier to feed their shooters ball in good position. By half-time Collegians still led, but it was 19-16.
Panthers continued reel in Collegians in the third quarter and after some smart work from Gaby Bugg, McIntosh locked it up at 24-all.
Scoring went the way of the centre passes early in the final quarter, but finally Collegians forced an error from their rivals and put on a three-goal run.
Panthers did get within one of the lead at 32-31, but Collegians finished strongly to take the win.
Noonan paid credit to the shooting skills of Matthews and McIntosh which hauled Panthers back into the contest, but also praised her side for keeping their composure under pressure in the final quarter.
"Their shooters are just brilliant, so we always know that the defence needs to be on. We have to be conscious of trying to slow it a little bit before it gets in to them because Jess, honestly she's just brilliant," she said.
"Lily McIntosh, she had come back to shooting for them this year. She was one of my girls coming up through reps and I know what she can bring as well.
"But credit to my Collegians girls, they kept it safe as opposed to the last time we played Panthers. We went into the last quarter of that game and went eight down then came back to win by one, so this was a much better option," she laughed.
