The results so far might show losses, but it hasn’t been all disappointment for Woodend-Hesket in the opening two rounds of the Riddell District Netball League season.
The Hawks’ start to the season hasn’t been an easy one, with games against finals hopefuls Lancefield and Diggers Rest.
Their next five games are against sides which all made finals last season.
It was a high-scoring match against the Burras on Saturday, with the Hawks paying for a slow start, eventually losing 70-49.
Sarah Duff and Georgia O’Loughlin were the best for the Hawks, while Madeline Staresina scored 33 goals.
Speaking before Saturday’s game, new Hawks’ coach Wendy Roberts said it had been a positive start to the season, despite the results.
“Going into round one we didn’t know the opposition and it’s always going to take time to gel,” she said. “I was pleased with the result. Last year we lost the same game by 48 goals, this year we lost by 30 goals.
“They pulled away in the first quarter, but we improved each quarter.”
Roberts said they would take time to gel with only two of last year’s A-grade team part of this year’s side.
“Only Madeline Staresina and Georgia O’Loughlin are back this year,” she said.
“Sarah Duff is an under-19 player who will play permanently up. She’s just 15 and an up-and-coming player.
“We’ve got a core seven players and we’ve got a couple of B-grade girls that can play up. Our under-19s are on a roster and will rotate through the A-grade side.”
She said there were positive signs in all three areas of the court, but knows they will only get better.
The Hawks won three games last season and are looking to build on that this year.
“With Maddie and Alex Watkins we’ve got height and speed in the attacking end,” Roberts said.
The Hawks under-19 team looks like it will be strong again. Last season, they became the first Hawks netball side to win a final.
In other A-grade results, Riddell was too strong for Sunbury Kangaroos and Lancefield made it two from two with a win against Rockbank.
Macedon was due to play Rupertswood on Anzac Day.
