Everything is starting to click for Macedon as it hits the pointy end of the Riddell District Netball League season.
While the Cats sit undefeated on top of the ladder, they are yet to play their best netball.
They showed glimpses of their best on Saturday with a 70-40 win against fourth-placed Riddell.
Cats’ coach Ciara Stewart said she, like many, was surprised by the margin. Riddell has been a side that has pushed the Cats in previous years.
“I thought it would have been a lot closer and a fight to the death,” Stewart said.
“We got off to a pretty good start … it’s the first game for the year we’ve started well.
“They gave us direct ball use. They were making mistakes and we were making very few.
“I think we missed five goals for the game and our errors were low.
“Everyone played well and the conditions were set for us.”
The Cats used the advantage of a big margin to change combinations, with only two players playing one position the whole game.
Working on combinations, not game results, has been a key for Stewart all season.
“It’s not about getting the wins,” she said. “We’re happy to drop a game or two if we’re trying things and got all bases covered.
“But we’re still winning and winning against the good sides.”
B-graders Karyn Szulc and Ashlee Coxhell came on late in the game to get more experience in the top grade.
Stewart was thrilled with the performance of Katie Clarke and being able to restrict the impact of Bec Colwell.
She said the flexibility in the mid court had been the biggest improvement from last season, when the side went through undefeated but went out in straight sets in the finals.
The Cats sit 10 points clear of Rupertswood on top of the ladder and this week face Romsey in the first week of a split round.
The Redbacks played in another thriller at the weekend, this time coming home with a 43-41 win against Rockbank.
After leading by six goals at half-time, the Redbacks watched as the Rams levelled the scores by three-quarter time.
But an 11-9 goal last quarter sealed the win for the Redbacks. Chelsea Ross shot 31 goals from 36 attempts.
In other games, Rupertswood defeated Diggers Rest 50-29, Woodend-Hesket upset Melton Centrals winning 42-38, while Wallan smashed Broadford 64-21.
