Ocean Grove opened its Bellarine Netball League A Grade season with a two-goal win against Queenscliff at Steeline Ray Menzies Oval on Good Friday.
The new-look Grubbers led by a goal at the last change and prevailed 57 to 55 in an entertaining game.
Both sides showed enough to suggest they will again be there at the business end of the season.
New coach Mel Holmes said being reigning premiers was not really in the forefront of her team’s minds.
“I have to see it as a new challenge with a new group,” she said.
“Last year was amazing and successful, but it’s a new year and a new team. They were successful last year and it was amazing, but I don’t want to go into the mindset that we need to prove anything other than to ourselves.”
Ocean Grove’s new-look attack started the season strongly with star recruit Zanna Woods scoring 35 goals and young gun Arlee Bennett 22.
“Zanna brings loads of experience and she’s got a really positive attitude and she’s willing to impart her knowledge on to the rest of the group,” Holmes said.
“And Arlee’s the baby, she’s fresh out of Under 19 Cougars, but she’s not playing there this year. She’s relocated here for uni and I think she’s just going to get better and better.”
Holmes said the side’s grit impressed her most, especially when it was challenged multiple times by a very slick Queenscliff outfit. She said the team will take a while to gel.
“They (Queenscliff) were good,” she said.
“They were strong and polished so we were really happy to get that first win.
“I’m really confident with the group we’ve got that it will just come as the season builds. Just getting used to each other and how to play.
“It was pretty close and at times there were ups and downs, but I think we dug deep and took it up that level.
“I was really proud of the fight the girls put up, and we just said ‘it’s not going to happen unless we make this happen, so we have to dig deep’.”
Ocean Grove has another home game in round two against Portarlington on Saturday April 6 at 1.45pm.
ROUND 1
A Grade: Ocean Grove 57 def Queenscliff 55. Best: Ocean Grove – Georgia Ryan, Zanna Woods, Georgia Berry. Queenscliff – Kaitlin Gladman, Tess Orvis, Laura Cayzer.
B Grade: Ocean Grove 46 def Queenscliff 35. Best: Ocean Grove – Jesse Sutton, Charlotte Vines, Emma Jones. Queenscliff – Erin O’Shea, Mia Stephens, Sienna Bruhn.
C Grade: Ocean Grove 46 def Queenscliff 32. Best: Ocean Grove – Matilda Kelly, Remi Bennett, Rorri Phibbs. Queenscliff – Dana Ford, Lauren Callahan, Meagan Canaway.
D Grade: Ocean Grove 31 def Queenscliff 26. Best: Ocean Grove – Giselle Dawson, Tina Birch, Tarryn Stanley. Queenscliff – Mia Moran, Charlotte Bland, Mel Dick.
E Grade: Ocean Grove 26 def Queenscliff 18. Best: Ocean Grove – Ruby Hildebrandt, Charlise Duckett, Keely Boswell. Queenscliff – Holly Hutton, Lauren Saunders, Leah Tait.
19 & Under: Ocean Grove 12 def by Queenscliff 56. Best: Ocean Grove – Tilly Peace-Teague, Tylah Foley, Georgie Collett.
17 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 30 def Queenscliff 20. Best: Ocean Grove – Emma Barry, Mikala Martin, Amelia Stanic.
17 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 28 def Queenscliff 18. Best: Ocean Grove – Ava Verhagen, Piper Needham, Olivia Grogan.
15 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 15 def by Queenscliff 22. Best: Ocean Grove – Alexandra Norgard, Charli Burke, Heidi Armstrong.
15 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 46 def Queenscliff 6. Best: Ocean Grove – Addison Fowler, Madeleine Gibbon, Ashley Sutherland.
13 & Under Division 1: Ocean Grove 17 def by Queenscliff 23. Best: Ocean Grove – Tayte McKenzie, Philippa Norgard, Willow Stephenson.
13 & Under Division 2: Ocean Grove 7 def by Queenscliff 17. Best: Ocean Grove – Matilda Dalton, Olive Wearmouth, Evie Davis.
