MILDURA are hoping to give undefeated Wentworth a “run for their money” when the two top teams meet today at Brian Weightman Oval.
Mildura co-coach Sharon Watson said her team, whose only loss for the season to date was against Wentworth, would get a gauge of how much they had improved since that round one clash against the competition’s “benchmark”.
“It is probably a good time to be tested to see what extra things we need to work on and stay on top of for the remaining of the season,” she said.
“Obviously this is only the start of the second round, and we were the first cab off the rank to them in the beginning of the season and we have definitely come a long way since then but they have obviously been working on things also and are a pretty well-oiled machine.”
Watson said she knew the game would be a challenge due to Wentworth’s experience and depth.
“They are a very formidable team that have played together for a long time, probably got a few ins and outs along the way,” she said.
“It will all come down to minimising passing errors, trying to slow the ball up from getting into their circle cause once it is in their circle they are very accurate and very strong.
“We have just got to make sure we put the pressure on them when we are in our own attack line so really happy with the way everyone in the group is playing and contributing. So I think we will give them a good run.”
Wentworth won the first round encounter against the Demons 61-33, marking one of only three times this season a team has scored more than half of Wentworth’s score.
Ouyen United and South Mildura were the only other teams to achieve this, with the Kangas scoring 31 to Wentworth’s 46, and South Mildura scoring 32 to Wentworth’s 56.
But Mildura last week defeated third-placed Ouyen United 44-36 to head into today’s clash with confidence.
“Ouyen United are again another really good side and very experienced, so we felt really good after that one,” Watson said.
“It was one of those lynch pin games where it would’ve been really sad if we dropped that and then not be as confident coming into this week.”
She said the team would try to stick to their game plan against the Roos.
“It is going to be about flowing the ball, getting it to the circle cause once it is in the circle it pretty much ticks the scoreboard over,” she said.
“We will just see how things go from there, hopefully they can miss a couple.”
Following Wentworth’s round 9 game against Robinvale Euston, playing coach Amanda Edwards said going up against against Mildura would be a “big game” for the side.
“They’re a young side and have been playing some good netball,” she said.
“It should be a great match-up.”
Edwards said she was delighted with how the team was performing leading-up to today’s important clash.
“We’ve got a great nine players and a great-quality bench,” she said.
“So whatever changes I make, it’s easy because we don’t lose much at all.
“It’s a credit to the club and the way we’re developing our players.”
In today’s other games, fifth-placed South Mildura take on fourth-placed Irymple at Mildura Sporting Precinct, seventh-placed Red Cliffs take on sixth-placed Imperials at Quandong Park and ninth-placed Robinvale Euston take on eighth-placed Merbein at John James Oval.
