SIXTH-PLACED Imperials hope to keep their finals chances alive, aiming to defeat fourth-placed South Mildura today at Brian Weightman Oval.
With the two teams going head to head for the first time since round two, Imperials’ coach Deb Scott said her team knew how important the game was and she hoped the team could come out on top.
“We know we need a win to keep our finals chances alive,” she said.
“The girls are definitely giving it their all.”
After Imperials defeated Red Cliffs 54-30 in last week’s round 10 game, Scott said the girls had played one of their better games of the season.
Before the match, both Red Cliffs and Imperials had an equal number of wins and losses and were only separated by percentage. The win cemented Imperial’s sixth-placed spot on the ladder, above Red Cliffs, Merbein and Robinvale Euston.
“The girls had a great game,” Scott said.
“They combined really well and defended down the court really well.”
With South Mildura back in good form, Scott thought today’s game against the Bulldogs would be competitive.
“I’m predicting it will be a very close game,” she said.
“We lost to (South Mildura) last time, so we are hoping we can turn the tables this time. It should be a great game.”
Scott said her team had been putting in the hard work at training and she hoped it would show on the court.
“We are just going to try and put in place the few things we have been working on at training and hopefully they come off and it helps our game,” she said.
South Mildura had the upper hand against now fifth-placed Irymple last week, defeating the side 40-36 to earn a place in the top four.
The win came after losses to the three top teams, Wentworth, Ouyen United and Mildura, and a draw with eighth-placed Merbein.
Coach Georgia Chase said the team was feeling great after last week’s win.
“The team are working together nicely and are feeling positive going into this week’s game against Imperials,” she said.
“Imps are a good side so it definitely won’t be an easy game but we have the confidence and the motivation behind us to make sure we stay in the top four throughout the last half of the season.”
In today’s other games, eighth-placed Merbein will be taking on second-placed Mildura at Kenny Park, and the now fifth-placed Irymple will play bottom-of-the-ladder Robinvale Euston at Henshilwood Reserve.
