Ocean Grove completed a clean sweep of all senior and junior games against Torquay in a stunning Bellarine Netball League round one performance for the club.
The Grubbers won all 12 games against a strong Torquay club to get their season off to the perfect start.
A Grade co-coach Candice Parker said it was an amazing effort from the six junior and six senior teams to defeat Torquay, which is strong across the board as well.
Ocean Grove never looked threatened in the A Grade game, coming away with a 76 to 48 win.
The Grubbers moved the ball quickly into the goalring with new co-coach Rebecca O’Neill on fire, netting 61 goals in a stunning display.
“Bec had a great game,” Parker said.
“She was really determined to get out there and have a good game and stand up for the team.
“She’s been working hard on her fitness during the off season and I think she has that extra sense of wanting to stand up and lead by example.”
Whenever Torquay scored, it seemed as though the Grubbers were able to reply within seconds with three or four clean passes where O’Neill was a towering presence at goal shooter.
“One of the things we’ve been talking about through training is quick transition, whether it’s an intercept or turnover or a throw-in, we’re looking to move that ball on quickly and get it to Bec (O’Neill) before they have their defence set up,” Parker said.
Ocean Grove has lost star defender Kelsey Ollis (travel), young gun Anna Smith (moved to New Zealand), Parker (retirement) and Jess Rankin (semi-retirement), but reinforcements arrived in the form of genuine stars Georgia Finn, Georgia Berry and Jessica Thwaites.
They took no time to gel with their new teammates.
“Our intensity for the four quarters was really good,” Parker said.
“We looked quite smooth in any of the changes we put on the court. The chat and talk was great, too”.
The Grubbers were able to get some minutes into 17-year-old first gamer Lexie Annand, who is playing Under 19s as well.
“She was fantastic during trials,” Parker said.
“We’re excited to give her the opportunity to come up and develop her game.”
Ocean Grove plays its first home of the season on Good Friday against Newcomb and Parker said the players were looking forward to playing in front of a potentially huge crowd.
“It’s always nice to have that game at home and with the added benefit of the long weekend we should get quite a good crowd,” she said.
ROUND 1
A Grade: Ocean Grove 76 def Torquay 48. Best: Rebecca O’Neill (61 goals), Georgia Finn, Emily Moroney.
B Grade: Ocean Grove 31 def Torquay 23. Best: Lucy Sampson (15 goals).
C Grade: Ocean Grove 37 def Torquay 24. Best: Anika Bult (17 goals), Matilda Kelly, Alyse O’Keefe.
D Grade: Ocean Grove 28 def Torquay 22. Best: Zarly Smith, Emma Sinkinson, Jorja Connellan.
E Grade: Ocean Grove 29 def Torquay 26. Best: Anabelle Sargeant, Lara Barnes, Hannah Quinn (21 goals).
19 & Under: Ocean Grove 25 def Torquay 14.
17 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 33 def Torquay 30.
17 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 32 def Torquay 26. Best: Grace Sadler, Sienna White, Clover Marsh.
15 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 21 def Torquay 17. Best: Holly Britt (11 goals), Ella Brown, Emma Barry (8 goals).
15 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 23 def Torquay 17.
13 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 17 def Torquay 12. Best: Heidi Armstrong, Alana Farrow, Tamika Wall.
13 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 12 def Torquay 8. Best: Joie Clarke, Ava Leske, Olivia Clark.
