Selkirk Sovereigns division one side claimed the scalp it desired, comfortably knocking off top four opponent Hawks Netball by 28 goals on Wednesday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sovereigns, which sits fourth, entered the Victorian Netball League fixture with an 0-4 record against fellow top four sides – this was a match with much more on the line than just four points.
Coach Kim Bailey rated the 59-31 victory as the team’s best performance of the year while the return of sharp shooter Rebecca Scott was valuable.
Bailey said the side may have got ahead of itself in the early stages of the season after a good start, losing four out of seven – but its last month has been right where it wants to be.
“It was our best performance for the year,” Bailey said.
“We maybe got ahead of ourselves at the start of the season because we were coming off a good performance last year, so we’ve tried not to think too far ahead.
“There’s been a distinct improvement in our gamestyle the last month.
“As long as we don’t drop another unexpected game (we should be in the finals mix).”
Meanwhile, the 19/under side delivered an outstanding display to account for the Hawks.
Sovereigns were without four of its starting players – Grace Todd, Charlotte Todd, Maggie Caris and Keara FitzGerald – but it still found a way to win.
The 19s held-off a fast-finishing Hawks to claim a 50-46 victory after leading by much more throughout the game.
19/under has now won five of its past six matches, but remains three-and-a-half games outside the top four.
“They just played exceptionally.
“It was a really great performance by them.”
The championship side did not fare as well, it went down by 35 goals to the ladder leading Hawks.
It faces Boroondara Express next week in a match-up it will be hoping to breakthrough for its first victory of the season.
Express sits second-last with just two wins.
