Bacchus Marsh hopes to turn some good form into wins during the second half of the Ballarat Netball League season.
The Cobras have only won one match this season so far, but have been in the mix in every one, before falling short in the second half.
Cobras’ coach Dean Giarrusso said he was pleased with the encouraging signs nonetheless.
“My plan this year was to set the team up, and then get the structures in place,” he said.
“It has always been a struggle to get new players to the club and, in the past, we haven’t had a straight A-grade team, and had players coming in and out from the B and C-grade sides.
“This year we’re sticking with the same girls.
“We’re really happy at the moment.”
Despite just one win, Giarrusso said they were a better side than results showed. They have lost three games now by four goals.
“We’ve been competitive in every game, and been in games, and sometimes in front at half time,” he said. “We’ve run out of legs, which is more the training sort of thing.”
One of the most pleasing games was against the undefeated North Ballarat City side.
“We lost by 20 goals, but last year we lost by 100 goals,” Giarrusso said.
“We were in the game until half-time, and the North Ballarat City coach said [afterwards] she was worried and had to put her best players back on the court.”
Giarrusso said he hoped that, as the team played together more, it would play more consistently for four quarters.
It’s his first season as coach.
“We have come in and brought in a few experienced players, and got three or four players from Bacchus Marsh,” he said. “We’ve brought a few under-19 girls up as well.
“We are consistent, but we’re just not finishing off games, and it’s our mistakes that are the issue. We can see massive improvement and we’re happy. We’d be more happy if we were winning though.”
Giarrusso said he thought his side was capable of winning another four to five games in the second half of the season.
The Cobras face Sebastopol this week after the bye last weekend.
“I have come from a winning culture and it’s something you can’t teach,” Giarrusso said. “Once you get that one win, you get confidence, and more will come.”
In weekend results, Darley defeated Melton 41-31, while Melton South lost 58-29 against Lake Wendouree. Darley’s win puts the side above Melton on the ladder.
