GOLDEN Square will head into the Bendigo Football Netball League season full of confidence after winning the Rochester Invitational in convincing fashion at the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The annual pre-season tournament attracted several teams from across central Victoria, giving clubs a chance to fine tune their teams ahead of round one.
Golden Square took on Sandhurst in the open decider, winning 21 to 8.
“I am extremely happy with how the team played on the weekend,” Golden Square A-grade coach Lia Marrone said.
“I rotated the girls through different combinations and they all stepped up to the challenge.”
Both teams showed off their newest recruits during the tournament, with the Bulldogs unleashing Bendigo Spirit champion Gabe Richards and basketball star Heather Oliver playing with the Dragons for the first time.
Marrone said Richards was becoming an impact player and expected her to be in for an exciting season with Golden Square.
“Gabe Richards fits in beautifully, she has a great attitude, works well with her team-mates and is an impact player,” she said.
Gabe Richards fits in beautifully, she has a great attitude, works well with her team-mates and is an impact player.
- Lia Marrone
Richards teamed up with Kath Basilewsky in attack.
The experienced netballer was back in action for the first time since sustaining an Achilles injury last year.
Marrone said she showed no signs of the injury which crippled her 2014 season.
“Meg Gilbert was awarded player of the final,” she said.
“Meg and Allira Holmes were amazing in defence throughout the day and Ash Ryan was also a stand out.”
Marrone said the Rochester tournament was a quality tournament and provided her team with a much needed test on the eve of their grand final re-match with Kangaroo Flat on April 3.
“We have a lot of talent at Square this year and the weekend was a good opportunity for us to pull together as a team,” she said.
“We did not fall in the same section as Flat on the weekend, so at this stage it is still to be seen how we will match up against each other this year.
“I am expecting a tough and competitive match.”
In the 17-and-under division, Kangaroo Flat won back-to-back titles, defeating Sandhurst 13 to 8 in the grand final.
Despite the lead changing several times in the first half, the Roos proved to be too strong.
Sharp shooter Annie Spear was named the best on court for Kangaroo Flat and Mia McConneky was Sandhurst’s best.
The Echuca, Lockington and Rochester Community Bank branches presented both Golden Square and Kangaroo Flat with $500 cheques for winning their respective divisions.
