Power aim to upset netball giants

NEWCOMB A Grade coach Lisa Robinson says the fourth-ranked Power need to knock-off one of the big three teams of the BNL to showcase their improvement this season.

The Power held off Drysdale in a 43-42 thriller in Round 6 after leading by one goal at the final change.

Robinson said defenders Jess Duke and Sarah Mulqueen starred and forced multiple turnovers.

Ebony Side stepped up at wing defence in Chloe Hoyle’s absence.

“Last year, we probably would have lost a game like that, a tight one,” Robinson said.

“We’ve really focussed on being able to keep control in those dying minutes to hang on.

“The girls lifted in that last quarter to ensure that we got over the line.”

The Power has had a solid year so far, only losing to Queenscliff and Ocean Grove – two powerhouses of the competition 58-35 and 45-39 respectively.

“We finished fifth last year, we really need to be beating a Geelong Ammos and Ocean Grove or Queenscliff this year for us to really show that we’ve made an improvement,” Robinson said.

“The aim is for us to really try and get over one of those sides, we certainly did have the opportunity against Ocean Grove but we just had a bad third quarter.

“What we need to do when we play those top three sides is put four solid quarters together and not drop away.”

Newcomb will host seventh-placed Anglesea on May 24, following this weekend’s league bye.