Slammers aim to arrest slide
This weekend could be make or break for the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers women as they try to avoid a fifth loss in a row when they host the Cockburn Cougars 4pm on Sunday.
The Cougars, who sit one position behind the Slammers in seventh on the ladder, sent shockwaves through the competition at the weekend when they downed the undefeated Mandurah Magic in emphatic style.
Meanwhile, the Slammers reached the lowest point of their season, with a Friday night drubbing at the hands of the Rockingham Flames leaving coach Darren Austin questioning the effort of his players.
Austin said the weekend overall was disappointing.
"I thought we had the right tactics, we just couldn't follow through with them," he said.
"We came out much better on Saturday night, but it was a four-minute lapse where we allowed Perry Lakes to take the lead.
"We just have little periods where players switch off defensively."
Austin highlighted stopping Cougars player-coach Deanna Smith, who is leading the competition in total points (196) and total turnovers (41).
"Cockburn is not going to be easy, Smith is a real quality player," he said.
"They are around where we are - they are the types of teams we have to beat."
Smith said defence would be Cockburn's focus against the Slammers.
"We are undersized so we are making sure we block out and keep teams off the boards," she said.
"Our game plan is very team specific.
"I think we are one of the fittest teams in the league, so we want to get out and run on offence and increase the tempo of the game."
