![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/DSC_0760_12803.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
As they did the week before in their win over Sebastopol, the Roosters set the win up with a bright first term and from there onwards controlling possession with patience and control.<\/p>\n
Their centre pass conversion rate was again a key factory against the Devils.<\/p>\n
“Something we are also focusing on is our turnover conversion, so not being wasteful,” Fitpatrick said.<\/p>\n
“We do turn over a lot of ball.<\/p>\n
“The girls did a really good job with that focus today and the stats came out looking really well on that.<\/p>\n
“I did feel we were controlled and measured in how we went about it.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think we’d played a full 60 minutes of netball until today (last Saturday). It was a good time to pull it all together.”<\/p>\n
Maggie Smith proved integral at the defensive end of the court, with a number of telling intercepts and deflections.<\/p>\n
“In terms of how much impact Liv (Cawthray) can have on a game, Mags put in a brilliant effort in shutting her down,” Fitzpatrick said.<\/p>\n
“We were super-pleased with her intent and effort.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “It really paid dividends in the end with how many turnovers and rebounds she got and just how often she got her hands on the ball.”<\/p>\n In trying conditions, Maddy Selmon stood tall at the other end, finishing with 34 goals from just 36 attempts.<\/p>\n North Ballarat will complete its first round commitments this Saturday with a showdown against third-placed Lake Wendouree (5-2-1) at C.E. Brown Reserve.<\/p>\n Fitzpatrick said the Roosters would embrace another tough challenge, knowing they are far from the finished product.<\/p>\n “There’s still so much to work on. You’d be a silly coach thinking you’ve beaten the reigning premiers and you can rest on your laurels,” she said.<\/p>\n “And that won’t be the case.<\/p>\n “Our goaler connections and connections elsewhere on the court we can still work on.<\/p>\n “Darley made it really hard for us to break into our goal third, so that penetration into the goal end is something we can definitely improve on.<\/p>\n “But I was definitely pleased with our effort all over the court.<\/p>\n “Our game plan doesn’t change much, but there are always slight adjustments depending on who we play.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NORTH Ballarat playing coach Maddie Fitzpatrick admits the Roosters still have ‘a lot to work on’ despite handing reigning A-grade premier Darley its first defeat of the season last Saturday. The Roosters replaced the Devils in top spot on the ladder with a stirring 45-40 victory at Mars Stadium. North Ballarat set up the win […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/06\/DSC_0971_14379.jpg\")