WEEKEND RECAP
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PYRAMID Hill coach Deb Forster says she was encouraged by her side's first-up performance against reigning LVFNL A-grade netball premiers Newbridge.
No more than five goals separated the two teams for the majority of the contest, which was the Maroons' final margin (55-50).
But while Newbridge was favoured to win, the Bulldogs refused to go down without a fight and were at one stage in the second half on level terms.
The performance has provided second-year coach Forster and Bulldogs followers with much hope and belief for a good season ahead.
"It was a very good effort," she said.
"We had a couple of new girls in and got a few players back to the club and they all came together well.
"Obviously we lost by five goals, but we definitely had our chances.
"I think five was about the biggest margin of the day, which at the end of the was unfortunate, but we were even at half time and down by about at three quarter time.
"We had our chances, but it's certainly given us something to work on."
An impressive effort from the Bulldogs, who are seeking to return to the finals following a one-year absence, certainly did not go unnoticed in the opposition camp.
New Maroons coach Kristy Shay was full of praise for the Bulldogs, in particular the accuracy in goals of Zoe Kennedy and Jess Holdstock.
"Pyramid Hill didn't miss much, if they got the ball in the ring they scored cleanly with their beautiful shooters," Shay said.
"There wasn't a lot for us to rebound.
"They were really clean with the ball and made us work really hard for it, which was a good way to get the season underway."
The Bulldogs get a chance to follow up their handy round one work against another team which showed plenty of promising signs for the year ahead in Bridgewater, which defeated Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 56-39.
Forster believed her team, which had been bolstered by the return of some of the Bulldogs's 2015 premiership players, would only get stronger as the season progressed.
"Bridgey will be another tough one because they have picked up a few new players," she said.
"They look like they had a good first-up win - it will be interesting to se what we do next.
"(But) there was plenty of positives to come out of the (Newbridge) game."
In other games this weekend, Mitiamo and Newbridge clash in a repeat of last year's grand final, Inglewood hosts Calivil United, and Marong plays its first game of the season against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Maiden Gully YCW has the bye.
