Netballers aim to extend lead

HEATHCOTE will aim to extend its lead in the race for a top-five berth on the A-grade netball ladder as the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL hits the halfway mark this Saturday.

The Saints will be home at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to take on Harlowe Huntly Hawks.

Although beaten by the Winslow White Hills Demons in last Saturday’s away game, Saints’ co-coach and mid-court star Brooke Bolton said there were many positives.

“I was really happy with our first half,” Bolton said of playing the reigning premier on its court at Windslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.

“I thought our goalers stood out and combined the best they had all season.

“It was great to see as they have been working incredibly hard at training.”

Scores were 23-all at half-time.

In the third the Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills lifted its play.

“The third quarter was the difference,” Bolton said.

“We just dropped off slightly all over the court and they lifted their play,” she said of being outscored by 10 goals.

The Saints never gave up.

“We picked up the intensity in the last quarter and did really well to be outscored by just four goals,”

Bolton said of the 55-41 result.

“This game showed we can be really competitive with the top teams,” she said.

“Kelsey (co-coach Kelsey Hayes) and I were really happy with the team’s effort.”

Stars for the Saints included goalshooter Sophie Pica.

“Georgia Bolton had a consistent game at goal attack and Chloe Hill was solid at goal defence,” Bolton said.

Now the Saints will aim to square their win-loss tally at four-all against a desperate Hawks line-up.

“Win and we finish the first half of the season a game clear in fifth, and possibly more depending on other results,” Bolton said.