Rupertswood overcame a slow start to knock off Romsey in the second round of the Riddell District Netball League season.
The Sharks made too many errors in the first half, trying to push the pace and finding themselves trailing by two goals at the main break.
Once they found some composure, they turned the tables on the Redbacks to come away with a 44-39 win.
Sharks coach Di McCormack said it was a great win against quality opposition.
The match was the Redbacks’ first of the season after their round one match was postponed.
McCormack said she thought the Redbacks, who claimed last year’s premiership, would again be in the mix this season despite losing a number of players.
“I’m really pleased and happy,” she said. “We were down at half-time and that was because of our errors. Once we got our rhythm and played a more settled game and our style of play, things went our way.”
McCormack was full of praise for Lara Keating, who she thought was best on court.
Keating played in the unfamiliar role of goal defence in the absence of Beck Anstey.
McCormack said Keating and fellow defender Clare Johnson were both strong, as was Matilda Elliot, who got a shot at playing in A grade.
Abby Gilmore was the pick of the goalers for the Sharks, shooting 23 from 28 attempts after coming on at quarter-time.
Monique Clark, who crossed from Sunbury Lions in the off season, was named the Redbacks’ best.
McCormack said maintaining the core group from last season had lessened the impact of a short pre-season.
The Sharks have added two new players, while they will again look to bring younger players through.
Gilmore, new to the side, adds a shooting option, while Shannon Blackman, from England, gives another dimension in the mid-court.
McCormack said they had both fitted in well.
“There’s a different feel about things this year,” she said.
“Everyone is playing good netball at the moment, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.”
The Sharks don’t have long to recover – they face Macedon in their traditional Anzac Day clash. Both sides enter the match 2-0 after the Cats defeated Rockbank 68-32 on Saturday.
McCormack said the match would give the Sharks a good indication of where they sit.
“We have to try and be competitive with them,” she said. “They’ve been playing together every week throughout the pre-season, so they’ve had a long time to settle in. We’ve had one training session and two matches.”
In other matches, Diggers Rest smashed Broadford 70-21, Riddell won a thriller against Wallan 44-43 and Melton Centrals defeated Woodend-Hesket 55-42.
