The Sunbury Lions are starting to fine tune ahead of a big back part of the Ballarat Netball League season.
Last season’s premiers are again the team to beat, with just one loss for the season despite not having their full side available most of the year.
While they will still have some more challenges in the run home, Lions coach Kim Bailey said before the weekend’s match, they were happy with how it was tracking.
“Heading into the pointy end of the season, we’re looking OK,” she said. “We’ve got a few injuries at the moment which we’ve trying to nurse through
“We have big game this week against North [Ballarat], coming off a relatively high scoring games
“For us, it will put some pressure on us, we need this sort of game.”
On Saturday, the Lions continued their good form with a high scoring win against North Ballarat, winning 76-59.
The Lions jumped out of the blocks and led 22-13 and it set the tone for the rest of the match.
Bailey said she was looking forward to seeing the further development of the shooting circle of Rebecca Hicks and Caitlin Hill.
She said having only played a couple of games together they were still learning their combinations.
Hicks shot 42 goals on Saturday and Hill shot 29 goals.
“It’s really good to have the likes of Caitlin Hill back in the team,” Bailey said. “She has added an extra dimension.
“We had a goal attack shoot over 30 goals, it was the first time it happened this season
“It just means it frees Bec Hicks up a little bit and provides a second option that defenders have to go to.”
Captain Tayla Honey missed the game as she recovers from a hyperextended elbow.
Bailey said they were managing a couple of other injuries, while Randall and Sarah Croft will both miss some matches as they head overseas.
She said they would look to qualify Taylah Easton for finals in both A-grade and under-19s to give them another defensive option.
Easton is part of the Australian under-19 squad and played in the SN Reserves finals.
”For a girl who is young and come down from NT [Northern Territory she has fitted in really seamlessly,” Bailey said.
“She will be our back up player as a defender and has been a good pickup.
“It’s such a delight to have her at the club, we’ve taken her under our wing.
“Sometimes you get these players who fall into your lap and she’s fallen into our lap, we’re lucky.”
While the Lions netballers had a win, it was a tough day for the senior footballers as they lost, 6.8 (44)-4.5 (29).
The Lions remain in fourth spot.
Both Lions teams face Ballarat.
