Silverware in their sights
Rick Fry's quick ball movement and footwork was a large difference maker. Photo: Jack Malcolm.
The FCL Nelson Men have put themselves in a dominant position to be the first team to lift the Fast 7 trophy after a convincing 80-42 win over Jacks OPD.
With both teams coming into the game unbeaten, the game will likely decide the top of the table in the stand alone round.
While in other results from NBS premier grade netball, Richmond F45 overcame Stoke NBS, 56-45 after an arm wrestle, and Prices Waimea Ahurei were too good for Nelson College for Girls, 54-31.
With Fast 7 having different rules and a new trophy for 2024, the Nelson Men have one hand on some silverware having been uneligible for the regular end-of-season play-offs.
While Jacks lent into using the rolling subs with frequency, another rule change in Fast 7, the men stayed largely consistient with their formation throughout.
Both teams started the game with strong intentions, trading points in a tit-for-tat through the first minutes before the Men started to edge ahead.
Their intentions for the game were clear from the outset, earning a turnover in the first possession of the game and never relinquishing the pressure.
What started as a small advantage soon ballooned to a 22-11 lead to end the first quarter despite a defiant performance from Jacks.
While they fought to the bitter end, it was the Men who had their stars shine brightest.
Ricky Fry had a standout performance directing the action from centre, his footwork often catching the defence off guard.
His vision for the pass alongside WA Jaxon Chadwick fed Jared Lock with a large amount of ball in the shooting circle at GA.
And with Jared seemingly unable to miss and GS Simon Duncan towering over the defence, turnovers typically resulted in points on the board when the Men got the ball into the shooting circle.
Despite rule changes for Fast 7 seeing the team conceding a goal getting the centre pass, Jacks were never able to mount their comeback.
A 44-21 scoreline at halftime became 62-30 at the last break, with both teams finding consistent results through the quarters but at different rates.
The Men were able to take Jacks out of their comfort zone, playing their brand of netball and not letting Jacks play their traditional fast and flowing play.