By Tara Murray
Rockbank has pulled off a surprisingly big win against Riddell in the Riddell District Netball League.
Having already beaten the Bombers once this season in an upset win, the Rams were expecting a tough, hard-fought contest.
But that wasn’t to be the case, with the Rams smashing the undermanned Bombers 66-35.
Rams captain Mary Brodie said they weren’t expecting such a big result.
She said they had no idea until game time that the Bombers were missing most of their usual side, with Victorian Netball League commitments the next day having an impact.
“We didn’t have that one down as a win,” she said. “We just wanted to keep playing the way we had been playing. It was a massive shock, as we thought they would come out firing.”
Brodie said despite the change in personnel for the Bombers, it didn’t change the way they went about things.
She said they kept the foot to the pedal all game, which was shown as they shot 16 goals in the final quarter.
Brodie said it was a good even performance, with some players getting more court time than in other games. A couple of other players battled through illness.
“It was really good for us,” she said. “It was great to get that win.
“Right across the board, we had a good game. Kari Love played goal keeper and was amazing. She hasn’t had a lot of court time. Everyone did the role they were asked of.”
Rebecca Hicks shot 35 goals from 43 attempts, while Isabelle Maguire shot 18 goals switching between defence and attack.
The Rams remain in sixth position, a game ahead of Diggers Rest.
The Rams have matches left against Broadford, Woodend-Hesket and Macedon in the run to the finals.
Brodie said the aim was to remain in that top six and play finals.
“We want to keep improving every match we play,” she said. “It’s coming together – we just want to make sure that we play finals. We need to put our best performances out there and try and hang on to a top six position.
“It’s very exciting for not only the team, but also the club.”
Diggers Rest, who are starting to get all their players back, kept in touch with the top six with a thrilling win against Romsey.
Playing their postponed round one match, the Burras defeated the Redbacks by a goal for a second time this season.
The Burras managed to be ahead at the final whistle 38-37.
Melton Centrals proved no match for Wallan, which won 56-37.
Sarah Hepburn shot 28 goals and was named Centrals’ best.
The result further dented Centrals’ finals hopes. They will be relying on winning their three remaining games and for a lot of results to go their way.
