Tara Murray
It was the match Darley had been waiting for all Ballarat Netball League season and the Devils came out on top on Saturday.
The Devils had been waiting for a shot to play against North Ballarat, in a repeat of last season’s grand final which North Ballarat won.
On Saturday, the Devils made the trip up to Ballarat and came away with the points, winning 41-39.
Devils coach Di McCormack was thrilled that the group were able to put out a performance like that.
“It was really good,” she said. “We should have won by about seven goals. We led by seven goals and then Becca [Hicks] rolled her ankle. Her movement wasn’t as good after that and the wind caught the ball a bit.”
McCormack said they had a lot of motivation to beat North Ballarat having been left disappointed after last season’s grand final.
Both teams entered Saturday’s match undefeated.
“We know on dry courts, we are a lot better team and we set up differently,” she said.
“We played some good netball and stuck to the game plan. Even when everything went haywire and we thought we might be a goaler down, we were able to settle down and get the win.”
McCormack said defender Matilda Elliot was the standout in the win, while the midcourt trio of Shannon Blackman, Prue Stanley and Ailish McCormack all had strong games.
Hicks shot 35 of the Devils goals.
McCormack said while she wasn’t shooting a massive amount of goals, that Monique Nagle had really stood up at goal attack.
“Mon is more involved in the game,” she said. “Becca still shoots a lot of the ball, but defenders have to decide whether to stick with Becca or split themselves to stop Mon.”
The Devils are set to get Olivia Cawthray back in the coming weeks to give them a third goaling option in another boost.
The Devils now sit a game clear on top of the ladder.
Having been on the road every game so far this season due to work at Darley Park, the Devils are at home for the rest of the season.
Darley this week hosts Redan, which sits in third spot which McCormack said would be another challenge for them.
“We want to keep playing our brand,” she said. “We’ve changed a couple of little things and the line up is solid.
“They want to play with each other, it’s a good feeling.”
In other matches, Melton South was too strong for Bacchus Marsh, winning 74-16. The Panthers sit seventh on the ladder.
The Sunbury Lions, Redan and Lake Wendouree were the other winners.
Melton had the bye.
