Tigers and Grubbers prepare for Grinter Reserve duel

THE top three teams remain in the Bellarine Netball League with two set to do battle Saturday afternoon at Grinter Reserve.

Ocean Grove’s dominant 64-48 outing against Drysdale on Sunday gave the Grubbers much-needed momentum heading into this week’s preliminary final, but head coach Nikki Cooke has no lack of respect for Torquay’s style of play.

“They are a very different team to Drysdale, they play a really good brand of netball,”

Cooke said.

“We’ll be looking at this game very differently to the last where our main aim was to return to our style of play.

“We had some personnel changes against Drysdale, particularly at the defensive end last time out.

“We tried out some different combinations and made sure they gelled well, but there are going to be key matchups all over the court this week that’s for sure.”

Ocean Grove shooter Rebecca O’Neill has remained a key focus for opposing teams to this point.

O’Neill netted 39 goals against Geelong Amateur and 49 against the Hawks in Weeks 1 and 2 of the finals, creating headaches for defenders.

But Torquay coach Sonia Harris is aware that it is going to take a team effort to slow down more than just Ocean Grove’s attacking power.

“It takes beating more than one player to beat a side and we need to beat all of them,” Harris said.

“We need to play to our strengths because that’s what has gotten us this far and that’s the challenge for us this week.

“Playing as a team and playing to our strength are the keys.”

The Grubbers and the Tigers take Court 1 at Grinter Reserve for a spot in the BNL grand final this Saturday at 2.45pm.