Melton Centrals made the perfect start to the Riddell District Netball League season on Saturday, smashing Rockbank by 40 goals.
Picture gallery: RDNL | Melton v Melton South
The competition’s defending champions unleashed a new-look shooting set-up for the round one clash, with Shelby Brady joining Renee Hulls around the ring.
In her first match with the Centrals, Brady scored 29 goals, while Hulls finished with 31 in the 60-20 victory.
Melton Centrals’ coach Randy Pereira was impressed by how his side gelled.
“The girls are still getting used to playing with each other,” he said.
“We threw a few balls away because they just weren’t used to someone not being there but, all in all, Renee and Shelby combined really well for a first time hit-out.
“I was really pleased with the all-round performance.”
Also impressive for the Centrals were Tran Truong, Melissa Laird and Sara Tangaroa.
Melton now turns its attention to this week’s clash against Macedon, with the Cats confident after a big round one win against Woodend Hesket, 76-15.
Pereira said his side would need to work hard to stop Cats shooter Rebecca Colwell, who scored 57 goals at the weekend.
“The thing with Macedon now is that, with Bec Colwell, we know they’re going to score heavily,” he said.
“When you have a tall goaler like that you really need the midcourt to put pressure on the ball carriers so that the ball doesn’t come in too quickly. It doesn’t matter how good your defenders are; if the ball comes in quick it’s very hard to stop.”
