While it’s no surprise that Ocean Grove and Geelong Amateur are undefeated and filling the top two spots on the Bellarine Netball League A Grade ladder, there might be a new challenger to shake things up.
Queenscliff is also unbeaten and had to do it the hard way in round 3, trailing at every stage and coming from behind to defeat Drysdale in a thriller, 45 to 43.
Coach Jane Searle was away for Easter, leaving the side in the hands of assistant Laura Clarke.
“It was a very emotional game, lots of ups and downs,” Clarke said.
“We put ourselves in a position that we shouldn’t have been in, so an eight-goal turnaround is hard to do in any game. The fact we did that was just incredible.”
Former Australian Diamonds player and international coach Searle will return for this week’s clash against Modewarre, and Clarke said there was “absolutely” a belief that the Coutas could challenge the competition’s ‘big two’.
Queenscliff finished the home and away season in third spot last year, was beaten in by Ocean Grove in the qualifying final and then lost by one goal to Torquay in the first-semi.
“I’m sure I don’t just speak for Queenscliff, but I’m sure every club had the same frustrations around talls (last year) with both Ammos and Ocean Grove having talls up front and up back,” Clarke said.
“We just didn’t have that. We don’t have a tall goal shooter yet, but we do have the injection of Alex Booker, which gives us more of a moving goal circle and the speed.
“So we’re really working on a moving goal ring rather than holding, which is new for us again. We’re still trying to work out the dynamics.”
The recruitment of VNL star Booker has made an immediate impact and her partnership with the ever reliable Kaitlin Gladman was pivotal on Saturday.
While Queenscliff will miss tall goaler Tess Orvis, who is due to give birth to her second child soon, the team has regained Phoebe Knox, who recently had a baby.
Queenscliff found a way to win against Drysdale, which is what pleased Clarke the most.
“The girls didn’t give up,” she said.
“They could have. At six goals down and getting beaten all day, but they didn’t.
“They were supportive of each other. Their discipline in the end to make the right choices paid off.”
Clarke said defenders Ebony Rolph, Caitie Kennedy and Felicity Rush kept her side in the contest in the first half.
“I wish I’d been taking stats about what turnovers they got and how many we converted,” she said.
“They were a powerhouse, there’s no doubt about that.”
OCEAN Grove had to dig deep to shrug off a determined Anglesea. Missing bookends Zanna Woods and Amanda O’Malley, Ashton O’Brien returned for Grove and partnered brilliantly with Arlene Bennet in goal for a 71 to 55 victory. Lulu Higgins was best for the Seas.
TORQUAY got the points against Barwon Heads, 45 to 31. New coach Kate Schippers was best against her old side.
GEELONG Amateur was too good for Modewarre, 44 to 18 with midcourter Georgia Duncan and defender Keisha Guilmartin best while goaler Keeley Cox best for the Warriors.
CARLY Sanders led the way with 48 goals as Newcomb powered past Portarlington, 63 to 38.
