By Tara Murray
Kyneton is showing it’s up to the challenge of the Bendigo Netball League A-grade competition.
After not having an A-grade team last season, the Tigers are fifth after eight rounds and showing positive signs.
Tigers coach Dianne Guest-Oakley said the first win this season was having an A-grade team back on the court.
The club has four netball sides this season, in contrast to one and half when Guest-Oakley took over as coach.
She said the A-grade players were enjoying the challenge of a higher level, with most of them playing in the Tigers’ A-reserve premiership last season.
“They are feeling challenged, which is a good thing,” she said.
“We’re now at that part of the season where it’s time to get serious.
“I can see the attitudes changing … they’re training a bit harder.”
Guest-Oakley said she thought the side could play finals, but that it was a matter of the players believing in themselves.
“I think we could be contenders if we knuckle down and train hard,” she said. “They can do it if they want to.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Kyneton vs Eaglehawk
She said there were a few areas of weakness in which improvement was required if they were to close the gap on the top sides – including starts to games.
Guest-Oakley said they were finding themselves down early in games.
“It’s been a bit of a struggle with being the only coach,” she said.
“I’m coaching four teams and girls are going on to the court without a pre-match talk. It’s something I have to change.
“Our first quarters are non-existent. We’re having to play catch up and we’re exhausted by the end. You can’t do that at this level in first quarters, let alone any quarters.”
On Saturday, the Tigers lost 56-35 to third-placed Eaglehawk.
Guest-Oakley said it was a tough day that included the absence of Brooke Mangan, out with concussion, and Tylah Marchbank, who will miss the rest of the season after hurting her ACL.
“There was a couple of injuries last week and it has brought them all down a bit,” she said.
“Brooke is a centre court player and she is the drive down the court. We didn’t have that on Saturday. It affected the side.”
In other matches, Gisborne got some revenge against Sandhurst in the grand final rematch. The Bulldogs won 53-28.
This means only percentage separates Sandhurst and the Bulldogs at the top of the ladder.
