Romsey’s netball season is back on track following an encouraging victory at the weekend, taking down the visiting Melton Centrals in the Riddell District’s A Grade competition.
The Redbacks’ 2024 campaign got off to a spirited yet disappointing start in round one’s back-and-forth three-point defeat against Wallan, however a well-planned home game for round two delivered the rebound Romsey required.
Woodend-Hesket trailed the hard-charging Redbacks for the entirety of the game – the trend resulting in a 58 to 31 victory that has left Romsey in third on the A Grade ladder.
Coach Lena Way said the key was executing the pre-game strategy ‘according to plan’.
“Our defensive pressure was outstanding, so we were able to execute according to all of our systems and structures which was brilliant,” she said.
“We had a bucket load of turnovers, and attack-wise we tried a few different combinations that all worked really well, which gives us a few options to play with throughout the season.”
Way’s top performers included Lucia Fauonuku, who was in top defensive form for the whole match, while the ever-consistent Maggie Lind was once again ‘executing above and beyond’.
Defender Emily Miles and attacker Lauren Anglin also did well to each put together a consistent four-quarter showing, while Charlize Bellette and Emma Grech were the sole contributors to Romsey’s scoreline with 46 and 12 respectively.
Way said in preparation to face Melton, the goal was to do the basics well and build from quarter to quarter while aiming to win by 30 goals.
“We had a couple of centre pass options that actually worked really well, we were trying to get depth in the second phase, and we were able to do that well,” she said.
Romsey will this weekend travel to play league newcomers Kyneton – a team that Way tipped to be ‘very strong’ and would call for ‘all guns firing’ from her side.
Elsewhere, Wallan travelled to Diggers Rest to face the Burras and came home with a 61 to 51 victory.
Leading the way for the Pies again was star goal shooter Maeve Donegan, who chalked up 45 goals ahead of new addition Alyssa Pearse on 14 and Emma Stalenberg on two.
The victory puts the Magpies two from two for 2024, who will now gear up to host second-placed Riddell this weekend, while Lancefield, the current A Grade ladder leader, will return from a bye for an away game against Woodend-Hesket.
Football
After two rounds Romsey has remained undefeated for 2024, however its most recent victory was never certain in its close contest against Melton at the weekend.
The Redbacks trailed for the majority of Saturday’s home game – the margin 11 points at its peak at half-time – but managed an impressive comeback in the final quarter to win by just three points, 10.8 (68) to 10.5 (65).
Darcy Lockens stole the show with four goals and a spot among Romsey’s best as the only Redback to bag more than one major on the day, however 2024 recruits Ash Millane and Oscar Schnoor each managed a goal as they continued to find their feet in the Redbacks’ lineup.
In other action, Wallan was able to right the ship following its first-round defeat to Romsey as it chalked up a convincing 10.5 (65) to 14.12 (96) victory over reigning premiers Diggers Rest.
Chris Stewart and vice-captain Sean Morris led the way with three goals each, while Jake Layley’s solid performance included two goals ahead of a spate of others from the rest of the Pies’ ranks.
Young gun Reuben Rode was also one of Wallan’s best on the day in his second match after returning to the Pies.
