A 37-goal victory over Undera has set the scene for Nagambie’s biggest challenge yet — playing the undefeated Stanhope this weekend.
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‘‘We’re really excited,’’ A-grade co-coach Sarah Sanderson said.
‘‘It’s come at a good time.
‘‘We’re improving every week so it’ll be good to see how we are going against a strong opponent.’’
In their round eight clash against Undera on Saturday, Nagambie comfortably accounted for the Lions, 58-21.
With a bare seven available to take the court and four regular senior players sitting out of the round, the match proved another chance for Nagambie to blood its younger stars, with Under-17s player Sophie Moore and B-grade’s Yvette LeCerf getting a chance to prove themselves at the highest level.
Sanderson said the game had been a good chance to get a solid hour’s worth of netball into her players.
‘‘We didn’t let Undera back into the game,’’ she said.
‘‘We were finishing quarters strongly. It was a four-quarter performance.’’
Among the Lakers’ best was Keely Woosnam in wing defence and centre and Sharni Lloyd in goal attack.
‘‘Keely’s in her first year of A-grade and has just gone from strength to strength,’’ Sanderson said.
‘‘And Sharni had three relatively inexperienced A-grade players around her and really controlled the attacking end.’’
Nagambie’s latest win is its sixth of the season and places it squarely in second place on the Kyabram District league ladder.
With only a limited number of players returning from last year’s A-grade squad, the Lakers have impressed with how they’ve jelled, with several new combinations of players across the court.
Sitting a win behind the undefeated Stanhope, it makes this weekend’s match-up the most interesting prospect of the round.
While Sanderson’s co-coach Bianca Willis is likely another week away from returning from a long-term injury, the Lakers will be close to full strength for the clash.
And it will be the Lakers’ conversion that is of greatest importance in the top-of-the-table battle.
‘‘In most games against top teams, it’s who can take their opportunities to convert that win the game,’’ Sanderson said.
In Nagambie’s earlier matches on Saturday, B-grade also dominated in its clash against Undera, winning 55-28, while C-grade narrowly lost by four goals.
In junior results, the Under-17s posted a massive 77-goal win; the Under 15s doubled Undera’s score for a 42-21 victory; while the Under 13s fought to the final siren in their one-goal loss to the Lions.