Tara Murray
Gisborne has received a welcome boost in the lead up to Bendigo Netball League finals with one of the competition’s best defenders returning.
The Bulldogs line up will be boosted by the return of Zoe Davies, who has been playing in the Netball Super League in the UK.
Bulldogs coach Tarryn Rymer said the plan had always been for Davies to join them for the back part of the season.
“It is awesome,” she said. “She is such a great addition with what she brings on and off the court.
“We’re super stoked and we’ve all eagerly been awaiting her return.”
Rymer said Davies is a player that is always keen to improve and that she enjoyed her stay in England.
She said it would be good for Davies to share some of that new knowledge with the squad.
Davies will make her return in the Bulldogs game against South Bendigo this week after the Bulldogs had a bye on the weekend with Maryborough not having an A-grade side.
It comes after she played a half for the Bendigo Strikers in their round 21 Victorian Netball League clash.
Rymer was in attendance at that game and saw first-hand that she hadn’t missed a beat.
“She is always working on her game,” Rymer said. “She’s a tenacious player and wants to chase down every ball.
“She’s a handy addition to the defensive line.”
After having a few players in and out of the side, Rymer is hoping the side will be able to settle down a bit heading into the back part of the season.
Claudia Mawson’s Suncorp Super Netball reserves commitments are almost finished as well.
Rymer said while they’ve had players out they’ve been able to test their depth with a number of A-reserve players coming up and playing their roles.
“We’re building depth in our squad, A-reserve are on top,” she said. “We train together as a unit.
“Demi Young has stepped up in A-grade and played some games in the midcourt.
“Dasha Taylor, Eloise Rodda, Bella Connors, Rylee Connell… It’s important to get them exposure at this level.”
The A-grade side sits in second spot, but has played one less game than Sandhurst which is sitting on top.
Rymer said the competition between the three sides had been really good again.
“We haven’t been as good as Sandhurst and Flat as being able to finish off games,” she said.
“They’ve kept the pressure on and we haven’t won as well as the others.
“It was disappointing that we weren’t able to play Sandhurst at full strength and they were missing three players as well.
“We would have loved to have done that.”
