EAGLEHAWK has secured its first win of the Bendigo Netball League season, defeating South Bendigo on Saturday.
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After suffering losses in the first two rounds, Eaglehawk managed to hold off South Bendigo to win by 10 goals.
Eaglehawk netball coordinator Kylie Piercy said all the girls were happy to get their first win on the board.
“It was a positive game for us,” she said of the win at the QEO.
“We started strongly despite not having our full side.”
Piercy said the A-grade side was able to make the most of South Bendigo’s errors across the four quarters.
“Our defence was tight, I thought Amy Jackman played a really good game and Emma Jenkyn really excelled,” she said.
Piercy also praised the efforts of Eaglehawk’s goalers.
“The goalers were on song,” she said.
“They were consistent across the game.”
Over the pre-season Eaglehawk went through some major changes, having a high turnover of players.
The team lost 13 players, however gained a further 15 to their A-grade and A-reserve teams.
Piercy said despite the change in personnel, the team was gelling on and off the court.
“I think the team has gelled really well,” she said.
“It is a happy bunch of girls.
“It is just a matter of continuing to work hard.
“There is plenty of room for improvement; we are a work in progress.”
Piercy said before the season began one of the goals for the team was to be competitive in the first few league rounds.
“We want to be competitive,” she said.
“We are just taking it one week at a time.
“Later on in the season we want to capitalise on our losses and improve on our wins.”
South Bendigo on the other hand, is yet to win a game this season.
Strathfieldsaye have also secured its second-straight win, defeating Sandhurst at Flight Centre Park on Saturday afternoon.
The final score was Strathfieldsaye 44 to Sandhurst 34.
Storm coach Maleta Roberts said she was thrilled with how the girls performed.
She said the game was one of the most physical of the season.
“Both teams were hungry for a win,” Roberts said.
“I am very happy with the girls performance,” she said.
“It was the best game I've seen them play as a team so far.
“Every player stepped up this week and did their job.
“The stand out though would be Claudia Powell, she had some amazing turnovers which gave us the extra edge at the right time.”
Roberts said she was now looking forward to next week's match against Castlemaine.
Sandhurst coach Nicole Bailey said heading into round four it was about reassessing the team before their next match after losing two games in a row.
"The girls played well, we kept up with them in the second half but they managed to get over us," she said.
Bailey said the Dragons were missing key players, Lil Smith and Sally Portbury.
"It did restrict the changes we could make throughout the game," she said.
Bailey said the girls would hopefully bounce back against Maryborough next week.
On Good Friday, Gisborne, the reigning premiers managed to overrun Kyneton by three goals in its round three match.
Kangaroo Flat also continued its perfect start to the season, defeating rivals Golden Square by nine goals.
Maryborough also scored its win of the season on Friday.
The team had a big win over Castlemaine.