Tara Murray
Woodend-Hesket is starting to play some consistent netball in the Riddell District Netball League.
Last season’s runners-up, the Hawks started the season slowly but has started to find some form the last couple of weeks.
Two weeks ago they inflicted Macedon’s first loss of the season, while on Saturday they accounted for Wallan.
Hawks coach Meg Grbac is happy with how things are tracking along for the group.
“We are finally hitting our straps, so they say,” she said.
“We’ve had a good couple of weeks of pretty consistent netball, finally. We’ve had a lot of injuries and unavailability.
“We have one game this season with our full side.”
Grbac said they always expected it to take some time to gel this season with a number of new players in the squad.
She said they were starting to get that mix right.
“We’ve got a similar defence end and a different looking attacking end,” she said.
“They are getting used to playing with each other. We have three really strong goalers and it’s a luxury that if something isn’t working that we have the option to mix it up.
“We have Laura Carland in wing attack, who is having a pretty good season, who has been strong down that end.”
Grbac said it was nice to be able to settle Carland just into the midcourt, after she had to step into goals at times last season due to injuries.
On Saturday, the Hawks were too strong for Wallan, winning 36-31.
Scores were level at quarter time, before the Hawks led by one goal at both half time and three quarter time.
An 11-7 final quarter sealed the win.
Abby Gilmore shot 16 goals for the Hawks, with Hayley Rogers named their best.
Grbac said it wasn’t their best performance but they were still able to come away with the points which was the main thing.
The Hawks now have the next two weeks off, firstly through the King’s Birthday weekend and then a bye.
Grbac said it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“We have a few niggling injuries, so the next two weeks off will be good for us to rest up,” she said.
“We’ll have a bit of a rest and then get back into it in two weeks time.”
Grbac said they were hopeful of having their full side more consistently through the back part of the season.
The Hawks sit third after eight rounds with six wins and two losses.
Grbac said they were happy with that.
“It was disappointing to lose to the [Western] Rams and we’re hoping that doesn’t come back to haunt us.
“We’re happy with where we are at, hopefully we can play some more consistent netball and get our full side together more consistently.”
In other matches, Macedon bounced back against the Western Rams, Romsey made it two in a row by beating Diggers Rest, while Riddell beat Lancefield.
