By Tara Murray
Bacchus Marsh will play Ballarat Netball League A-grade finals for the first time in a number of years.
After a tough few weeks during which they dropped a few games they shouldn’t have, the Cobras have returned to form and showed why they deserve to be in the top six.
On Saturday, a one-goal win against Sebastopol was enough to seal a finals spot they’ve been chasing.
Cobras coach Michael Saker said he didn’t know the last time the A-grade team played finals.
“We knew we had to win that game,” he said. “All the girls are pretty excited. It was a major goal we set this year.
“Last year we finished two and half games outside the top six and we were thereabouts but couldn’t get the finish.
“It was the clear goal that we wanted to make finals this year.”
The Cobras showed glimpses of their best against the undefeated Sunbury Lions in the previous round and were able to do it again against fifth-placed Sebastopol on Saturday.
Like many of their recent games, not much separated the two sides and the Cobras won 42-41.
Stacey Jeffrey shot 29 goals for the Cobras, with wing defence Megg Collins named their best.
Saker said a meeting between the playing group had got them back on track a few weeks ago.
“A few home truths were said about work ethic,” he said.
“The wheels had fallen off and it started to get ugly on court. It brought us back on the same page and refocused everyone.
“The efforts have been there the last couple of weeks.”
Now with a finals spot secured, the Cobras plan to try a few more things in the final round against win-less Melton.
Saker said after losing their main goal shooter, Madeline Hodgson, for the rest of the season, they were trying to settle the attacking end.
He said they wanted to get the win and continue their good form, but at the same time they want to make sure they stay injury free.
“We want to keep the momentum we started from the Sunbury Lions game,” he said.
Melton is coming off a 46-23 loss to the Sunbury Lions.
As for finals, Saker said anything can happen.
“We haven’t spoken about it this year, but we’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain,” he said.
In other results, Melton South had a draw with Lake Wendouree 40-40, while Darley lost to North Ballarat City, 53-31.
