Sirens avenge home defeat with reverse win over Rhinos

Both sides came into this game hungry for three points after defeats in their last run outs in Round 11.

Sirens race out of the blocks

Clarke got the game underway with the first centre pass and after some patient play and quick hands form Rhinos Burger netted the first goal of the game 1-0. Sirens responded with a goal but Rhinos displayed vision into the circle and spotted the opportunity for an early ball into a free Grierson allowing her to get her first of the game 2-1. The ball went off the backline for Rhinos, and Sirens transitioned well despite strong Rhinos defence. Keenan picked up ball however the ball went off the backline again for Rhinos on the transition. Contact was called against Sirens and Rhinos converted 3-2. Rhinos reset to the line but Sirens came out on top with a turnover. Magee disrupted play but Goodwin was unfazed. A high ball was placed into Burger 4-5. Clarke regained possession for Rhinos and Grierson added one more 5-6.

An offside call went against Sirens and Rhinos were patient on the transition, after a call within the circle Grierson gets another 6-6. Rhinos next centre pass went off the sideline and Goodwin took it to goal for Sirens  6-7. The ball then went off the backline for Rhinos again but Oyesola picked the ball back up and allowed Burger to add to her tally 7-8. Oyesola did well to keep the ball on court but it quickly went off the backline. Goodwin continued successful under the post 7-11. Sirens also caused a held ball from a Rhinos centre pass which they then converted 7-12. Keenan earned herself a turnover and Hall did well to keep the ball on the court. Burger settled her side by netting the next 8-12. Oyesola got a tip but is called for contact 8-13. Sirens are called for out of court on the backline allowing Rhinos to smoothly transition to goal 9-13. Burger got one more to continue to reduce her sides deficit 10-13. Abertheny took a turnover and Goodwin was successful again, Sirens lead was out to five 10-15. Keenan picked up ball but Rhinos couldn’t transition, Sirens used the post to control the ball and Rhinos were given possession. The time on the clock had other ideas and stopped them taking the ball to goal leaving the deficit at five entering the second quarter 10-15.

Rhinos raft the changes

To start quarter two there was a couple of changes which saw Clarke move back into WD. Walker entered the court at C, Grierson moved into WA, Rushton entered the game at GA and Magee took the GD bib. Walker took the first centre pass of Q2 and Burger was successful on the shot 11-15. Rhinos were playing with intent to reduce the deficit. Patient play from Rhinos ended with a long ball into the circle which had a little too much on it for Burger, Sirens transitioned quickly 11-17. Walker tipped the ball and was backed up by Clarke who picked up the loose ball. Rhinos transitioned well but a held ball was called further down the court. Goodwin took the shot for Sirens 11-18. The ball went off the backline for Rhinos, Sirens were patient and used the reset, Mccall took the goal extending their lead 11-19. Rhinos went back on their centre pass but again the ball went off the backline. Sirens had to work hard to transition with multiple passes being taken in Rhinos attacking third. It ended with Mccall home alone taking the shot 11-21. Walker earned herself a turnover on the sideline which the crowd loved, Rhinos successfully took it to goal 12-21. Burger got herself another determined to keep her side in the game 13-21. Walker fed Burger under the post with a perfectly placed pass 14-22.

After a late take-off call against Rhinos, Sirens took the ball and transitioned well 14-24. An attacking contact was called against a Sirens shooter but a missed shot saw Sirens back in possession 14-25. Clarke applied pressure and the ball went off the sideline for Sirens. Rhinos transitioned down the court but couldn’t get the ball within the circle. Sirens took the ball to goal quickly 14-26. Rushton got the rebound and put it through the net 15-27. Sirens picked up a loose ball and were again successful on the shot 15-29. Despite a tip on the ball from Rhinos, Sirens remained calm and successful on the shot 15-30. Mccall took the final shot of the quarter and time again denied both sides of a final second shot 16-31.

A tight third quarter

Rhinos went into the second half 15 goals behind, Robinson the head coach made multiple changes to the seven out on court. Walker moved back into WD, Clarke retook the C position, Hall entered the game at Wa, Grierson moved back into the GA and Burger took back the GS bib. Abernethy commenced the second half with the first centre pass but Rhinos earned the ball and Burger took it to goal. Burger continued strong under the post for another 18-31. Sirens took the next four goals 18-36.

Quick hands from Grierson and Hall allowed Burger to take the shot 19-36. Burger held strong and took the goal despite the contact call 20-37. Burger remained successful 21-38. Hall displayed vision into Burger 22-39. Rhinos whole team defence was rewarded when a held ball was forced upon Sirens however they quickly lost possession and Sirens ended with the goal 22-40. A quick one-two from Grierson and despite a tumble to the ground she was successful on the shot 23-40. Burger stood tall under the post 24-41. Rhinos then forced Sirens off the sideline but after a patient transition the call went against Rhinos within the circle 24-42. A replayed ball was again forced upon Sirens after pressure from Hall, Hall then found Burger under the post 25-43. Quick play from Clarke allowed Burger to take the shot 27-44. Hall found Burger under the post 28-45. Magee then re-entered the game at GD. Clarke tipped the ball from a Sirens centre pass into the hands of Hall, Burger took the shot 29-45. Burger shot another, and Rhinos earned possession on the next Sirens centre pass. Sirens however were the ones that took it to goal 30-46.

Encouraging end for Rhinos

Players returned to court for the final 15 minutes and Rhinos had the first centre pass. Burger got the first goal of the quarter and settled the home sides nerves 31-46. Walker then picked up ball on the circle edge to the delight of the home fans allowing Burger to net another 32-46. Footwork was called against Siren and despite Grierson doing well to keep the ball on court it was qucikly back into Sirens hands 32-48. Airey tipped the ball and was unlucky to gain herself possession, Mccall continued and took the ball to goal 33-49. Rhinos earned themselves a backline within Sirens shooting circle and Clarke and Grierson combined well 35-49. Walker picked up ball but was called to be offside. Sirens took the shot 35-51.

Rhinos remained patient and allowed themselves to build, Grierson took the shot 35-51. An attacking contact call goes against Rhinos but the whole team defensive effort saw them force a held ball, however further down court the ball is fumbled and Barrie takes the shot 38-55. Tight defensive pressure from Rhinos forced Sirens off the sideline however again further down court Sirens regained possession 39-56. Magee tipped the rebound and Clarke picked it up Burger netted it 40-56. Grierson took a long shot 41-56 and Airey came out on top with the ball allowing Burger to take another 42-56. A long ball from Hall to Burger on the second phase of the centre pass reached Burger in prime shooting location 43-58. Hall again found Burger under the post 44-59. Clarke took the final centre with four seconds remaining, the ball reached Burger but time denied Rhinos of the final goal 44-60.

Gilbert Player of the Match: Beth Dix, Strathclyde Sirens

Starting Sevens

Leeds Rhinos (GK) Keenan, (GD) Oyesola, (WD) Magee, (C) Clarke, (WA) Hall, (GA) Grierson, (GS) Burger

Stathclyde Sirens (GK) Vinkhumbo, (GD) McKevitt, (WD) Nicholl, (C) Abernethy, (WA) Dix, (GA) McCall, (GS) Goodwin

Match report provided by Leeds Rhinos

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