Tara Murray
Things are starting to come together for Melton Centrals in the Riddell District Netball League.
After a slow start to the season, Centrals have started to put some strong performances together.
On Saturday, they put together their strongest four quarter performance against Kyneton.
Playing each other for the first time, Centrals jumped out of the blocks and led by 10 goals at quarter time.
The margin was out to 19 goals at half time.
Centrals were able to continue their momentum in the second half to win, 72-41.
Centrals coach Randy Pereira said they were starting to find their feet.
“It was our first clean sweep as well,” he said. “In A-grade it was a really good win.
“It helped that Laura Bennie wasn’t in their side but I’m not sure how much of a difference it would have made.
“We have started slow, yesterday [Saturday] we were strong from start to finish. We started well and were able to increase the lead.”
Helen Aumua shot 36 goals for the Centrals. Pereira said the young shooter had lifted her shooting massively since early in the season.
He said Elisa Butterworth-Gonebale has been starting to gel with the side after missing a couple of weeks while Avana Hobson has built into the season after breaking her finger just before round one.
The win moves Centrals to fourth on the ladder with three wins and three losses.
Avana Hobson said he was pretty happy with how the group was going.
“We’re still very young,” he said. “We have three 17-year-olds, two 18-year-olds and a couple of 19-year-olds.
“We should have beaten Riddell. We were seven goals down at three quarter time and hit the front.
“We should have never been seven goals down to start with. The first two rounds we were awful and we’ve started to hit our straps.
“Things are really good and the season is really close.”
Centrals this week face third placed Woodend-Hesket beat an understrength Romsey, 73-41.
Diggers Rest caused an upset, beating Riddell.
The Burras hosted Riddell and were slow out of the blocks.
The Bombers led by six goals at quarter time, but the margin was back to two goals at the main break.
Scores were level heading into the final quarter. It was goal for goal in the final quarter with the Burras winning 44-43.
Alice Sacco was best in the win for the Burras, while Finnuala McKeagney-Stubbs had a strong game for the Bombers.
Macedon beat Lancefield in the other game.
