SOME changes to the mid-court and slicker passes were a key factor as Kyneton surged to a 15-goal victory in the Bendigo Football Netball League's A-grade netball match in Eaglehawk on Saturday.
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At the end of a closely-fought first half it was Kyneton in front, 22-20.
Tigers' coach Karlie Plowman then made some decisive moves.
Emma Webb went from centre to wing attack and Tegan Beckerley from wing attack to centre at the start of the third quarter.
The yellow and black won the term, 16-8, and the last, 14-9.
"We made a shaky start," Plowman said.
"Playing indoors is a lot different.
"The pace of the game was a lot faster and took us a while to adjust to.
"Eaglehawk also defended well, especially in the first half."
The style of Kyneton's game also changed as the match went on.
"Too often in the first half we lobbed the ball into the goal circle and just expected Michelle Fletcher to catch the pass.
"Eaglehawk's defence picked off a lot of those attacking moves."
Plowman said the message at the half-time break was for the goalers to "come forward" to the first pass rather than go for the high ball.
"The passing by Tegan and Emma was a lot better to our goalers, Michelle Fletcher and Hayley Page in the second half."
By the final whistle, Kyneton led 52-37.
The Tigers have a 2-1 record and are fifth on the ladder.
Kyneton heads back up the Calder Highway on Anzac Day to play South Bendigo at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
“It will be a night game, so that’s another big challenge,” Plowman said.
Although South Bendigo is winless, Plowman said Kyneton could not take the opposition lightly.
“South Bendigo is an under-rated team. The match won’t be a cruisy one, so we have to ready from the first pass of the match.”
The unbeaten run for Golden Square and Sandhurst rolled on.
Playing at home at MyJet Oval, Golden Square raced to a 17-goal lead by quarter-time of the clash with Strathfieldsaye.
The blue and gold blitzed in all thirds of the court.
A powerful attack slotted 21 goals and the defence held Storm to just four in the opening stanza.
Strathfieldsaye struck back to win the second quarter, 10-7, but still trailled by 14 at the long break.
It was evenly fought third term in which both teams added seven goals.
The Lia Marrone-coached Golden Square lifted its play in the final term to win it 12-8 and the contest, 47-29.
Golden Square plays at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve on Anzac Day.
The match between QEO co-tenants Sandhurst and South Bendigo ended in a 37-goal win for the Sandhurst line-up.
An evenly-fought opening quarter ended with Sandhurst up by six goals
The Carol Cathcart-coached Sandhurst then went on to win every quarter - 15-11, 17-4 and 19-5 - for a 64-27 victory.
Sandhurst heads west next Saturday to play Maryborough at Princes Park.
In other round three matches, Gisborne dominated play on Castlemaine’s court at Camp Reserve.
The Gisborne line-up teamed brilliantly to keep Castlemaine to single figures in all four quarters.
Gisborne led 21-5 at quarter-time and 43-9 by half-time.
The relentless pressure did not ease as Gisborne went on to achieve a 75-21 victory.
Reigning A-grade premier, Kangaroo Flat overcame spirited opposition from Maryborough in the first half to win 41-29.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached Kangaroo Flat plays at Eaglehawk in the fourth round.