ANA 2025: Shooting star Te Paea Keremete puts Narrikup in cruise control as battling Bullets come up short

Narrikup 1 kept up the pressure on Kangas 1 at the top of the Albany Netball Association’s A1 ladder with a 68-39 win over battling Bullets 1 in the NAIDOC Round on Saturday. There was no stopping Narrikup goal attack Te Paea Keremete who bagged 42 goals from 47 attempts in a clinical display of shooting in the round nine fixture. While her accuracy was impressive, the chances she got were often thanks to the feeding of Kristie Slater, whose bullet-like passes had the Bullets chasing shadows. She also had useful back-up in the shape of Courtney White, with 13 goals from 16 attempts, and Rylee Davis who shot 13 from 18. As sharp as they were in the attacking circle, they were just as good in defence, denying their opponents space under the posts and forcing Bullets to concede contact fouls and countless interceptions. Narrikup coach Tanya McLennan said her side had been able to put into practice combinations they had drilled in training. “We connected quite well on the court and fed well into the circle,” she said. “The young players stepped up and Te Paea was exceptional. “We were also able to put them under considerable defensive pressure and every substitution we made worked.” Bullets’ goal shooter Claire Holliday scored 29 from her 38 attempts and did well despite being under the cosh from Narrikup’s defensive duo. Despite the size of Narrikup’s victory, Kangas — who have played a game more than their nearest rivals — stayed top of the ladder on percentage following their 63-31 demolition of Magpies 1. A four-goal blitz in 90 seconds at the start of the game meant Magpies were playing catch-up throughout and they could make no headway as the game went on. Trailing 21-9 at the first break, they held their own in the second quarter which finished 32-19, but seven goals in a row from Kangas midway through the third took the leaders’ advantage to 21 points. Another spell of four in a row towards the end of the final term emphasised their domination. Royals Saints 1, who sit third on the ladder, two points behind Kangas and Narrikup, kept themselves in the hunt with a 49-39 win over Railways 1. A tight first quarter ended 11-10 to Royals courtesy of a shot that just beat the buzzer, but a run of seven goals in a row midway through the second did major damage. Royals finished the half 25-18 to the good and then sank four on the trot at the start of the third to knock the stuffing out of their opponents. Before the showpiece contest, Cheri Muir, the ANA’s grassroots coordinator and Aboriginal liaison officer, led the acknowledgement of country, which was given by Narrikup’s Courtney White. Ms Muir is one of the association’s two Aboriginal life members.