Tigers staying humble amid hot run of form

TORQUAY’S 0-4 start to the Bellarine Netball League (BNL) season is now a distant memory, with the Tigers looking to make it six wins from its past seven encounters if they can steal a win from Drysdale away this weekend.

Tigers A Grade coach Sonia Harris said her side had not necessarily had an up-and-down season despite not securing its first win until Round 5, but Torquay was on the rise now sitting inside the top five for the first time.

“You could say it was a rough start. It didn’t help having ‘Hally’ [Elisa Hall] out at the start of the season, but we’ve been thereabouts in all of the games we’ve lost, as well as losing a couple that we didn’t want to.

“But, we have players now understanding our gameplan and building on those connections. It’s all coming together, but we’re not getting too carried away with it. Each week is a new task.”

Next on the agenda for the Tigers is Drysdale, who got the better of the Tigers by three goals in the opening round of the season.

The increased awareness of responsibilities will play a major role for the Tigers against the Hawks, according to Harris, with a win potentially propelling Torquay into fourth spot on the ladder if Newcomb falls to Portarlington.

Since goal shooter Elisa Hall’s return to the Tigers over a month ago, she has taken on the primary shooter tag with grace, joining captain Rhian Moresi in the attacking third, compiling 41 goals last week against Newcomb and averaging over 28 goals per match.

Harris pointed out Moresi’s ability to motivate her players when touching on Hall’s return to the side.

“Rhian has a really good connection with everybody, as a leader she finds a way to know what works for each member on the team and how to get them up and about,” she said.

“So we feel like Rhi is really good with Elisa like that, but it’s just so exciting for Hally because in recent seasons she has been playing backup to Daisy [O’Kane], who left the club after last season.

“Now, everyone is just so happy for her to get that callup and seeing her growing in that role too.”

The Tigers also boast no names on the injury front, with the side’s only absent player Taylor Mitvalsky, overseas.

Torquay and Drysdale begin play at Drysdale Recreation Reserve from 1.45pm.