Riddell District Netball League was left to rue a disappointing first three quarters against Alberton Netball League on Saturday.
The RDNL travelled to Inverloch for the interleague clash but didn’t fire a shot until the game was all but over.
Alberton jumped out of the blocks and led at every break. And although the RDNL controlled the fourth quarter, Alberton won 45-35.
RDNL coach Jarrad Walker said it just didn’t happen for his side on the day.
“It was one of those days that everything that was 50-50 fell their way,” he said.
“The ball would bounce off the post and into the court for them and off the post and out for us. It was one of those days.
“We had to try to stem the flow of the game and it didn’t happen until the last quarter.”
The RDNL team was slow out of the blocks and struggled to click as a team while Alberton was at its best early on.
“Alberton, to their credit, were consistent almost to the end of the game,” Walker said.
“They just played consistent, error-free netball. We were probably too flowing.
“The first quarter killed us and took the wind out of us.”
RDNL made changes at the defensive end which created more turnovers, but wasn’t able to convert at the other end of the court until late in the game.
“We didn’t fire until the last quarter when it was about 16-4 our way,” Walker said.
“The game was gone for us by the time we found our rhythm and we relaxed a bit more.
“We will take heart from the last quarter.”
Walker said Sara Febbo was best on court for the RDNL, while he was impressed with how Ellen Close performed coming onto the court in the second half.
Close was a late inclusion to the side, after fellow shooter Hope Evans withdrew from the team because of injury.
“That’s the best I’ve seen Sara play,” Walker said. “She’s come on leaps and bounds this season.”
Meanwhile, the RDNL under-17 side lost 27-21 against Alberton.
