St Albans 19 & Under netball coach Warren Button is hoping his side can play finals again this season.
The young Supersaints made the preliminary final last year before losing to Newtown & Chilwell and they started the new season off in style, defeating Lara 36 to 27 at St Albans Reserve on Saturday April 12.
“We started off slow, but the girls got the job done in the end,” Button said.
“It was a hard-fought slog.”
St Albans led by five at half-time, but scored nine goals to three in the all-important third term.
“We looked at the first half and we changed our game plan,” Button said.
“We started to get off the body and create more of a moving target in the goal circle, which opened it up and gave our goalers a bit more freedom. And then we also dropped one of our centre courters back into defence to create a bit of a wall.”
Button said finals are definitely on the radar.
“We made the prelim last year and we’ve still got three of those players in the side,” he said.
“I would hope to make finals again this year, but it’s just growth from the first half to the back half of the year. It’d be a win for us if we can improve on the scoreline and just have that efficiency.”
The Supersaints’ best players were goal keeper Isabella Telfer, goal defence Ruby Wilson and Millie Andrews who played goal attack and goal shooter.
“She’s (Telfer) fairly solid back there and with Ruby helping her out, they communicated quite well,” Button said.
“They got the job done. She (Andrews) started off at goal attack in the first quarter and then moved in the goal shooter for the second, third and fourth.”
The competition now pauses for a week for Easter before St Albans takes on Geelong West in round 2.
“We found Geelong West to be a well-coached side last year,” Button said.
“They’re well structured. It’s going to be an even contest. I think it’s just going to come down to who’s cleaner on the court.”
Button said there were areas to improve upon going forward.
“In the first quarter our disposals were lacking,” he said.
“We threw a few balls away so we just need to pick the better options.”
Newtown & Chilwell defeated Bell Park 49 to 26 with goaler Emma Chitty best on court.
St Mary’s had to work hard to defeat Geelong West 32 to 23 with Alexis Milner dangerous around goal while Keira Loney was potent at the other end for the Giants.
St Joseph’s pulled away from Leopold to win 35 to 26 in a good game with skipper Paris Knight in fine early form.
South Barwon got the better of Grovedale 51 to 22 with co-captain Isabell Hand scoring 24 goals.
