Grubbers continue strong form

Zanna Woods puts up a shot. 408025_06

Ocean Grove will continue to focus on what it needs to do in the Bellarine Netball League.

Last season’s A-grade premiers sit second with a 7-1 record and are showing some of the form that held them in good stead last season.

Coach Mel Holmes said it had been a great start to the season and she was loving seeing the group turn up for each other each week

“I’m not surprised by our good form,” she said. “For us we lost three of the seven premiership players from the team last year.

“It’s kind of like a new year, new team, new desire to win.

“The girls that were there certainly don’t have a hangover. The new recruits are fitting in really well.

“The group of girls we do have really want to have fun at netball and play for each other.

“I just facilitate that the focus of having fun means they will play well and they will win.”

The Grubbers are coming off a 33 goal win against Drysdale after a three goal win the week before.

The three goal win was their third win within three goals this season.

Holmes said the side’s experience was coming to the fore in the key moments. She said some of those close matches they hadn’t had their full side either.

“It comes down to experience and backing each other in,” she said.

“We do have some really experienced girls in the team who are really level headed like Georgia Berry, Zanna [Woods].

“They know what it takes to win [and] know what it takes to keep composed in those tough moments.

“I can confidently put out any combination on court and I believe that the girls can get the job done no matter who we’ve got.”

The Grubbers this Saturday face Anglesea at Shell Road Reserve.

Anglesea sits in sixth spot.

Holmes said she was looking forward to the challenge.

“I played with two of the Anglesea girls, Maeve and Breda [O’Kane],” she said.

“I know their game style pretty well.

“We focus more on what we have to do ourselves rather than who we are playing against.

“In order to be successful without giving too much away, some of those things are limiting turnovers, applying heaps of defence pressure… Relentless in attack.

“If we stick to that it doesn’t matter who you come up against.”

In other matches on Saturday, Queenscliff faces Portarlington, Drysdale plays Modewarre, Newcomb takes on Geelong Amateur and Torquay plays Barwon Heads.