BENDIGO’s open netball team might have lost to arch rivals Ballarat on Saturday, but according to coach Melissa Ryan it was the perfect hit-out for the team ahead of next month’s association championships.
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Ballarat scored a 46-40 win at Eastern Oval, but Ryan admits with more training sessions under their belt and the inclusions of key players Gabe Richards and Heather Oliver, the story would be a little different the next time they meet.
“I wasn’t disappointed, I was rapt with how we went,” Ryan said.
“The score shows we didn’t win, but when you put it into perspective and consider the preparation we had, a six goal margin is a great effort.”
Bendigo wasn’t able to train together before the match, whereas Ballarat was able to string together regular training sessions.
“They (Ballarat) have come off 13 weeks of VNL and have played at that intensity before,” Ryan said.
“We don’t have that, so to go on court having had no training and with some players meeting each other half an hour before the match for the first time is something they should be very proud of.”
Ryan said Bendigo stuck with Ballarat for most of the match.
“We wanted to put on defensive pressure across the court, so we could create those turnovers and we were successful at that," she said after the match.
“Our accuracy in goals let us down.”
All nine of the Bendigo players got a run on court.
Strathfieldsaye’s Brianna Dalyrmple-Monro and Sandhurst’s Brooke Bolton teamed well throughout the mid-court and defender Ingrid Hopkins was a key player in defence.
Gisborne’s Maddie Stewart started in attack, but was then moved into her preferred defensive position.
Ryan said she would now work with Golden Square's Lia Marrone, who will take over the reins as head coach of the open team.
Meanwhile, Hayley Bolton's 17-and-under team was the only Bendigo team to score a win against Ballarat on Saturday.
The talented team won 55-29.
"I am rapt with how they played against tough competition," Bolton said.
"They all stepped up."
Bolton said their defensive efforts were key to winning on Saturday.
She said the umpires named Ava Lowndes the best player on court, but Bolton said Ruby Barkmeyer and Elley Lawton were also standouts for Bendigo.
The team of young guns will quickly turn attention to the Northern Association Championships in Echuca on Sunday.
"It is a really important tournament for us if we want to progress through to Melbourne," Bolton said.
