Tara Murray
Melton Centrals overcame a slow start against Diggers Rest to score their fourth win of the Riddell District Netball League on Saturday.
The Centrals side struggled early in the piece against a Burras side that hasn’t had much luck this season.
The Burras led by four points at quarter time and at one stage by eight in the second quarter, before the Centrals started to get going.
Centrals finally took the lead in the third quarter and were able to build that through the second half to seal a 37-27 win.
Centrals coach Randy Pereira said they were happy to come away with the win despite not putting together a four quarter performance.
“We started off terribly,” he said. “We were down by five and one stage as much as eight in the second quarter before we got on top.
“We have six teenagers in the team. There are going to be some ups and downs. We are still in the top five, which is a good thing.”
Pereira had to make some changes before the game with Mariah Vankerkvoort hurting her knee during the week.
She will have scans to make sure her knee is fine, having previously had a knee reconstruction on that knee.
Taylor Pereira, who coaches the C-grade and under-19s, stepped in to play centre. Her sister and RDNL legend Rebecca Morabito also played a half up from B-grade.
Emma Winzar continued her good form in goals, shooting 25 goals, while Tahana Aitu continued her strong form at wing attack.
Pereira said the inclusion of Colleen Lavea, who had played in the New Zealand equivalent of the Victorian Netball League had been a good inclusion.
The win moves the Centrals to a 4-4 record.
Pereira said they were generally happy with how they had gone this year.
“We’re going well,” he said. “I’m still not over the loss to Riddell, we were nine goals up and lost by one goals.
“Riddell started to come back and our younger players tried to play faster and longer.
“It’s about the belief and they’re getting more games under their belts and get better.
“We’re tracking better than last year and you want to see improvement each year, which we are.”
Pereira, who is in his 15th year at Centrals and 20th year as a netball coach overall, said they’ve had some mixed results with their other teams. He said the 19s were getting wins, but hadn’t put four quarters together, while their C-grade side had a lot of new players.
The Centrals this week face Lancefield.
The Tigers lost to the Western Rams on Saturday, 64-47.
In other results, Macedon and Romsey had a draw, while Riddell beat Wallan to move to the top of the ladder.
