SUNBURY’S 22-goal win over Sebastopol meant more than just the four points.
It was a mini hurdle that the eastern Lions had overcome, powering to their first victory since reforming a Ballarat Football League senior netball side.
Sunbury had forfeited the opening seven rounds of 2011, before finally getting together the numbers to field a team for the remainder of the season.
It failed to win a match in a long campaign of heavy beatings, finishing at the bottom of the ladder.
A year on and there is renewed hope, with the club now filling four netball teams, including a senior side, all headed by coaches.
It has also created the position of netball coordinator, which has been taken up by Vanessa Lish.
Lish, who was on court in Saturday’s senior triumph, said it was a special day for the club.
“The girls were over the moon. It was a good feeling throughout the club,” Lish said.
“We went out feeling confident that we’ve got a stronger team this year and we are competitive.”
Lish said a more organised approach had helped get the netball division of the club up and running.
“We’ve managed to be more organised this year, having more hands on deck and helpers.
“The whole club has been quite supportive of me and the netballers and getting us back on board,” she said.
Sunbury’s success was made possible by the efforts of its defensive end – led by Ashleigh Danckert, Emma Renneberg and Polly Cooper – as well as best-on-court Elissa Allen, who spent time at wing attack and in goals.
Other winners from the weekend’s round of matches were Bacchus Marsh in a one-goal thriller over Darley, Melton over Melton South, Lake Wendouree easily over Ballarat and East Point against reigning premiers Redan.