Devils dig in for crucial win over Roosters

DARLEY coach Shannon Blackman has praised her players’ resilience and determination to stay the course after a memorable victory over North Ballarat last Saturday.

The Devils consolidated second place on the ladder behind Sunbury with a gutsy 56-48 win away from home at Mars Stadium.

Following an even first quarter, the Devils made their move in the second, outscoring the Roosters 17-12 to establish a five-goal break.

They were able to stave off several Rooster surges in the second half to run out impressive eight-goal winners.

Another win over a bona-fide finals contender ensured the Devils head into this weekend’s bye round at 6-1-1, a game and a half behind Sunbury, but four points clear of third-placed Lake Wendouree.

Blackman hailed a full-team effort by the Devils and lauded their ability to dig in when the going got tough.

“Everyone played four quarters of netball,” she said.

“North have always been very competitive, so it’s good getting a win against them early on in the season.

“They got close to us towards the end of the third quarter, but we made a couple of changes, which worked in our favour.

“We did well to keep fighting it out.”

Among the most influential of the changes, the Devils subbed Maddison Bosio on at key moments of the game with great effect.

Top contributors in the win included goal defence Anna Lawley, goal shooter Olivia Cawthray and midcourter Lucy Taylor.

Playing only her second game of the season, Blackman said the Devils’ season was tracking nicely, with only the one blemish so far against Sunbury.

The Devils, who were without their coach and also Cawthray in that game, trailed the Lions by only five goals at half time before eventually losing by 21 points.

They will get another crack at the reigning premiers on 21 June, but must first negotiate East Point in round nine at Darley.

“We are going well – everyone is enjoying it,” Blackman said.

“Looking at the ladder, most of the games among the top teams have been pretty tight. Anything could happen really.”

North Ballarat coach Annie McCartin said she was happy with her team’s effort, given the absences of defender Milly Simpson and midcourter Gina McCartin.

“We gave Maggie Smith her first game in A-grade and she did a great job,” she said.

“Credit to Darley, they are a lovely team and play some beautiful netball.

“But given the players we had out, I was reasonably happy with the performance.”

Goal shooter Maddy Selmon (43 goals at 93.48 per cent) was the Roosters’ standout, while McCartin further praised the efforts of goal attack Poppy Douglass and midcourter Stacey Matthews.

“Our attack was very well guarded by the Darley girls, so I thought those girls did a great job to produce what they did,” she said.

The loss was the Roosters’ third this season and has them uncharacteristically in sixth place after eight rounds, with Bacchus Marsh moving into fifth spot after a 32-goal win over Sebastopol.

At Melton, powerhouse goal shooter Rebecca Hicks topped the 100-goal mark in Sunbury’s big win over the Bloods.

Hicks contributed 104 goals in a 108-29 Lions win.

Round 8 recap: Bacchus Marsh 51 def Sebastopol 19; Redan 67 def Ballarat 30; East Point 39 lost to Lake Wendouree 62; North Ballarat 48 lost Darley 56; Melton 29 lost to Sunbury 108.

Round 9 (June 14): Ballarat v Melton; Darley v East Point; Lake Wendouree v Redan; Sebastopol v North Ballarat; Sunbury v Bacchus Marsh.