Double trouble grounds the Jets

It was a challenging double header for the ECU Souwest Jets at the weekend, falling to the Curtin Hamersley Comets and Peel Lightning. After a tough 77-41 loss to the Lindal Rhode-inspired Comets in Perth a night earlier, the Jets were unable to weather the Lightning at the Eaton Recreation Centre, who ran out 58-48 victors. Against the Lightning, the Jets showed plenty of promise early, with defensive duo Riley Culnane and Shaye Skraha working collaboratively to slow down their offensive rhythm. However in the Jets’ attacking circle, exceptional goal shooter Giselle Taylor was finding things difficult against the Lightning defence, which smothered her with pressure at every opportunity. This forced Jets coach Erin Culnane to change things up tactically, with veteran Maia Bratton coming off the bench to work with goal attack Lisa Millman. Watching Bratton and Millman go to work inside the attacking circle was a thing of beauty. Their ability to capitalise on different angles and extend the Lightning defence with their impressive reaches was a real highlight. After doing some damage in the second term, the Lightning were tested periodically by the home side, before Lightning offensive threats Summer Stirling and Ellie Smart iced the win in the final term on the back of some brilliant efficiency against a weary Jets defence. Post-game, Culnane said Bratton’s original role was to replace Millman if she struggled with some nagging injuries. “We were not sure if we were going to have Lisa,” she said. “She has had some problems with her calves and she also dislocated her finger quite badly on Saturday night. “But she strapped up and true to form, she was very brave and tough. She wanted to play. I had Maia to go on and play goal attack thinking Lisa may not last — but as it turned out, Giselle was getting pummelled and was struggling to hold her ground.” Culnane stressed that she found no fault with Taylor’s effort or desire, however the Bratton move at the time needed to be made in order to get some offensive momentum. “We had our chances, but errors again really let us down,” Culnane said. “Their defence was really physical and tight which made it very troubling with their zone in the mid-court.”