Storm Salvage A Draw In The Dying Seconds!

Storm managed to sneak a draw in the dying seconds of this Division Two match despite leading throughout.

With Silhouettes welcoming back their centre for the first time this season Storm knew it was going to be a tough night.

Wing Defence Emma Heller was unavailable so Saira O'Dwyer continued at Wing Attack while Hailey Collins filled in at WD.

Wing Defence Hailey Collins

With chances at a premium in the opening fifteen minutes Storm only missed one to take a narrow 7-6 lead into the break.

Storm's game flowed much better in the second quarter and they stretched out a five goal lead after winning the period 11-7 but Silhouettes hit back in the third winning that one themselves 11-7 to leave the scores 25-24 in Storm's favour going into the last.

Olivia Ballard came on for Saira O'Dwyer at Wing Attack as Storm looked to hold on to the narrow lead.

Silhouettes continued to battle though and eventually took the lead with just 30 seconds to go but it was Storm's centre pass. The ball reached Shooter Sadie White and she nailed a shot with just 20 seconds left on the clock.

Silhouettes took the centre pass and looked to feed a quick ball into the circle but an interception at full stretch from Hailey Collins saw the ball bounce harmlessly out of court and the clock ran down to leave the game tied at 34-34.

Head Coach David White admitted he was relieved to get the draw but felt a tinge of frustration; "Obviously the draw is better than the defeat that almost happened but it's slightly annoying because we should have won. We set ourselves up with a good second quarter but let them back into the game in the third and they had the momentum going into the last but they failed to capitalise on it."

"Hailey's interception at the end proved crucial to earn us the draw but I think the girls will be disappointed they didn't take all the points. Credit to Silhouettes though, they didn't stop battling all game and basically out-hassled us in the last quarter."

Storm Captain, Sharon Teague, says the team is adjusting to the higher division; "It's a faster pace than we've been used to in the lower divisions but we're starting to get used to it now. It was certainly quite a nail biting game!"

White admitted it must have been a good game to watch; "It was a terriffic game for any neutral I would imagine but I thought we looked tired in the second half. This is our third game in six days and at this intensity that's a lot of hard work."