Gisborne tried some different things on Saturday as it prepares for some tough challenges ahead in the Bendigo Netball League.
The undefeated Bulldogs faced a determined Castlemaine side on Saturday, with the Magpies keen to claim a scalp.
The Bulldogs were able to do enough, coming away with a 67-53 win.
Bulldogs coach Tarryn Rymer was happy with the performance.
“They’ve been struggling a bit getting a side on the court each week,” she said. “It was a good hit out for us.
“They brought in Gabe Richards and it was a good chance for us to play against a quality opposition and trial some things we’ve been doing at training.
“Some worked and some didn’t.”
Rymer said they were really strong defensively in the contest, winning a lot of ball and it was a strong team performance.
She said at times there were some wayward passes that aren’t normally in their game, which they need to reduce.
With Claudia Mawson playing in the Vic Fury in the SSN reserves competition and Kirby Elliott out for three weeks with concussion, Rylee Connell and Eloise Rodda came up into the side.
“Tori Skrijel and Rylee combined nicely,” Rymer said. “It’s really exciting to see Rylee get a chance.
“Bella Connors has also come up this season. It’s very exciting to see the depth in the A-reserve.
“With Claudia and Kirby out it gives other girls the opportunity to step up at that level. It’s a good chance to see what they can do.”
The Bulldogs remain in top spot ahead of a top of the table clash with Kangaroo Flat, which had the bye this week.
Rymer said there wasn’t much between the two teams along with Sandhurst at the top of the table.
“We need to bring our A-game next week.”
Mawson and Elliott will both miss that game as well.
Rymer said across the board it had been a good season for the club so far.
Like the A-grade side, the A-reserve and B-grade sides sit top undefeated. The B-reserve side sits second with just one loss for the season.
The under-17s sit just outside the top five after a costly loss on Saturday.
“Hopefully they will be better in the second half,” Rymer said of the under-17s. “They are all new this season but two of them.
“They are getting better each week.”
In the senior football, the Bulldogs also came away with a win against Castlemaine.
There was nothing in the game in the first half, before the Bulldogs kicked 10 goals to three in the second half to win, 15.9 (99)-9.4 (58).
Brad Bernacki kicked four goals for the Bulldogs, while Zac Denahy kicked three.
Braidon Blake was named the Bulldogs best.
The Bulldogs sit second on the ladder.
