Tara Murray
Things are starting to come together for Gisborne in the Bendigo Netball League.
It’s been an interrupted start to the season for the Bulldogs, who had a bye in round one and then had another week off in round three with Maryborough not having an A-grade side.
In between they got a win against Sandhurst in the grand final rematch, before a strong performance on Saturday against South Bendigo.
The Bulldogs set the 61-37 win up in the first half.
Bulldogs coach Tarryn Rymer said they were happy to finally get out on court again.
“There’s been a lot of stop-start and it can make it hard,” she said. “Hopefully we can gain a bit of momentum.”
Rymer said she was happy with the first half against South Bendigo before they ran out of legs a bit in the second half.
She said defensively they were winning a lot of ball and the attacking combination of Torie Skrijel and Claudia Mawson are starting to build on what they did last season on the way to a premiership.
Rymer said for them they will get better as they get more games under their belt.
“We’ve had to manage a couple of players with lots of other commitments,” she said. “Some aren’t playing VNL [Victorian Netball League] so it’s getting back into it for them.
“They are fit, it is about building the match fitness for those who are not playing elsewhere.”
Rymer said she felt like they had winners across the court in the win against South Bendigo.
She said Maddy Stewart was fitting well back into the team having missed last season.
The Bulldogs under-17s got their first win of the season on Saturday, with the group being a very young side.
Outside of the 17s, they’ve had just one loss across all the grades in the three rounds they’ve played.
Rymer said she can’t complain about anything at the moment with how they’re going.
The Bulldogs A-grade side will be at home for the first time this season on Saturday, hosting Golden Square.
Meanwhile on the football field, Gisborne had a second straight 150-plus point win.
Also facing South Bendigo, the Bulldogs blew the game away after quarter time, winning 12.6 (78)-1.4 (10).
Harry Luxmoore kicked eight goals while Pat McKenna kicked four goals.
Braidon Blake and Jackson Cardillo were named their best.
They will also play Golden Square on Saturday.
