Sunbury Lions overcame a slow start to easily account for Melton South in the Ballarat Netball League.
It was an even first quarter, before the reigning premiers stepped it up another level, on the way to a 57-37 win.
Lions coach Adam Boldiston said he was happy with the performance after the slow start.
He said the experience of his players shone through after quarter-time.
“It was a bit surprising that we had a scrappy start,” he said.
“I actually gave them a bit of a spray at quarter-time, which I hadn’t had to do before.
“Not only defensively, but also our transition was crap and we weren’t seeing the free player.
“Once we started to do that in the second quarter, we dominated and we didn’t look back.”
Amanda Cusack, who was playing up from B-grade, shot 41 goals from 47 attempts and was named the Lions best player.
Boldiston said while B-grade was Cusack’s priority this season, she would play up in A-grade at times.
The match was the first time Cusack and new Lion Tarnee Adams had played together.
Adams was a late inclusion for the Lions, giving them another shooting option.
Boldiston said Adams would get better as the season goes along.
“I’d never met Tarnee before,” he said.
“I just saw her name listed on one of those team sheets [for a Victorian mixed team],” he said.
“I thought who did I know who knew her and saw Kate Fletcher did.
“I contacted Fletch and asked are you keen to come back and do you want to get Tarnee as well and they both came across.
“She has played a bit of state league before.
“Tarnee improved from last week and shot better for the most part.”
The late additions mean that Renee Hulls has stepped back into the B-grade side.
The win came despite injuries and Victorian Netball League commitments having an impact.
Fletcher and Aila Pera missed the game, while Elly Randall only played a half.
Boldiston said the restrictions and outs meant at times they struggled to find the right connections.
The win gives the Lions a 2-0 start, after a hard-fought one goal win against Redan in round one.
Boldiston said every match with Redan was a challenge and they would take every win they could.
“It was a confidence boosting win,” he said.
“We didn’t know what to expect against Redan and we didn’t know against Melton South either.
“We were a lot better today.”
The Lions this week face Darley, which defeated Melton on Saturday.
