Tara Murray
The Sunbury Lions believe they have turned the corner the last couple of weeks in the Ballarat Netball League.
A brand new team, the Lions have put together some solid results so far this season, but are now starting to go to the next level.
On Saturday, the Lions were able to hold their composure against Redan, to get a good 42-33 win.
Lions coach Kim Bailey said they were starting to come together really nicely.
“I know we had an easy win the week before against Bacchus Marsh, but it was a really lovely game,” she said.
“I think it consolidated the girls together. Today they were really pleased and I was really pleased.
“It wasn’t a pretty win, but they toughed it out. They threw everything at us.”
On Saturday, Sunbury got out to an early lead, before Redan came back at them. It was the same throughout the game, with Sunbury able to steady each time.
Redan came one last time in the final quarter, but Sunbury was able to fight back and run away with the win.
Bailey said speaking with the group afterwards, the word the players used to describe the game was composed.
“We didn’t get rattled, especially when we got a couple of goals scored on us,” she said.
“They scored three goals and we just said go back and do the work and our defenders got tips and we turned it over again.
“To keep building, like that is pretty pleasing against a really good team.”
Alani Fauonuku scored 32 goals for Sunbury, while Tara O’Grady scored 10 goals.
Bailey said they were starting to see the growth of the side as the season progresses.
“That is one of the big things that we have noticed… We had North [Ballarat] and Darley relatively early at the start of the season when we had no composure.
“The last two weeks we’ve had a full team on the court, it’s starting to slowly come together
“You look at the defenders, in particular the two girls that never knew each other are really compsored, awesome combination.”
At the other end of the court is Fauonuku, who has just turned 15.
Another plus for the Sunbury has been having Georgia Hellyer able to play full minutes after other commitments earlier in the season.
“Her foot work is exceptional which makes her a really great wing d to get around and get those little tips,” Bailey said. “It takes a little bit of the pressure of Tayla [Honey]. We think that she’s Tayla Honey, we can throw the ball and that she can get any ball, we don’t want to put that much pressure on her.”
Sunbury’s win came without Ruth Smith, who broke her nose the day before the game.
