MELTON Centrals started its season in style with a 53-21 win over Wallan in the RDFL A Grade netball, despite missing key players.
The win came without star player Rebecca Morabito, who recently had a child. Morabito won the Janine Ryan Medal in 2009 and tied for it in 2011.
The Blues have lost the past two preliminary finals to Romsey and are hell-bent on taking the next step this season.
Coach Randy Pereira said the win away from home was a positive start to their 2013 campaign.
“It was a pleasing win,” he said. “Given we were not at our best and not at full strength, to win by over 30 goals, you can’t be too disappointed with that.
“It was a pretty hard day out there at Wallan. With the crosswind we had a battle on our hands, so overall I was quite pleased with the win.
“It was good for a first hit-out and if we can get to training and be competitive we can match it with the likes of Macedon and Romsey.”
In the only other match for the round, Lancefield emerged victorious 41-38 over Broadford in a thriller at Harley Hammond Reserve on Sunday. The win was met with plenty of celebration by the club, which did not field an A Grade team last season. Their B Grade team won only three matches last year and finished third last.
This weekend’s football and netball fixtures: Sunbury Kangaroos v Rupertswood, Wallan v Kilmore, Melton Centrals v Rockbank, Riddell v Diggers Rest, Macedon v Woodend-Hesket, Romsey bye.
