Tara Murray
Things are coming together nicely for Riddell as it continues to maintain its spot at the top of the Riddell District Netball League ladder.
The Bombers have back-to-back matches against Woodend-Hesket and Macedon, which will be the side’s biggest test this season.
The Bombers came away with the win in the first of those, beating the Hawks on Saturday, 38-34.
Bombers coach Beck Anstey said it turned out to be a really strong day across the board for the club.
“We’re all coming together nicely,” she said.
“The playing group is putting in the work and it’s transitioning into results. We got four from four and the panel of coaches were very happy.”
The first game between the two teams earlier in the A-grade was played in horrendous conditions with the Bombers winning by one point.
It proved to be another close one between the sides, with the Bombers again getting the result.
“Again it was anyone’s game,” she said. “There was nothing in it in the first half and then we made a couple of positional changes and we pulled away.
“There were four goals in it, but it was still really tight. We tried to shut down Abby [Gilmore] who is their volume shooter.”
Gilmore finished with 25 goals for the Hawks, the most of any shooter on court.
Amy Starzer shot 22 goals for the Bombers, while Ellen Close shot 16 goals.
Anstey said they know that the Hawks weren’t at full strengthen, with last year’s Ryan Medal winner Ty Coppinger away and that the side would continue to get better.
The Bombers also weren’t at full strength with shooter Shelby Holter missing the game.
“Shelby was away this week and Amy the week before,” Anstey said. “We’ve had Christine Harris on the bench as a third goaling option as I’m a big believer in having three goals.
“We’ve only used the two goalers and they’ve been really great and settling into some good combinations and playing out the four quarters.”
The Bombers are a game clear at the top of the ladder from Macedon with Woodend-Hesket a further game back.
Anstey said they were really pleased with the season so far.
“We’re feeling very fortunate,” she said. “We’re doing a lot of work and we’re seeing it pay off.”
The task doesn’t get any easier with a top of the table clash this week.
Anstey said they were looking forward to the challenge.
“We’ve built a fair bit since the first game we played them,” she said. “They have had some injuries, but have been playing together for a long time.
“We are building at the right time.”
In other results, Macedon and Wallan had a 29-all draw, while the Western Rams were too strong for Melton Centrals, winning 57-40.
Diggers Rest got its second win of the season, beating Lancefield in a thriller, 53-51.
