AS the all-conquering Wentworth A Grade netball side continues past a half-century of consecutive victories, star defender Nat Vercher said the hunger to win is still ever-present.
The Roos’ second-half blitz to defeat Ouyen United 51-29 on Saturday makes it 51 wins on the bounce since their last defeat, which came in the 2019 grand final.
Vercher herself, who arrived in 2020 just before the pandemic, holds an enviable streak of winning every game she’s played in the red, white and blue as the powerhouse side have gone onto complete two invincible seasons culminating in premierships.
It’s a record she hopes to continue alongside a “special group” who have made her feel at home.
“I’ve missed a few games with some injury niggles but I’m lucky to have won each game I’ve played so far,” she said.
“I love that feeling at the end of the year when all the hard work is done and you get to celebrate with a really special bunch of girls, that’s what still drives me.
“I really felt like I’d found a real home with Wentworth and we had a special group then too, so it was really tough to take when the season was eventually cancelled.
“I think however that hunger really built from that point and to be honest it hasn’t really gone away, I think it’s also part of the culture we’ve developed within this team.”
Vercher’s intercepting ability in defence was instrumental in Wentworth turning a first-half shootout with Ouyen United into a 22-goal win, earning her the nod for Netballer of the Round.
The goal keeper has formed a fearsome defensive partnership with Courtney Wakefield, supported by Christie Becker at wing defence.
With Emily Hosking back at the club this year and young gun Lola McInerney impressing in extended A Grade minutes, it’s a unit Vercher loves being part of.
“Having played for so long together we all understand each other’s game style and we’re open to learning from each other,” she said.
“I love playing alongside Courtney, she’s just a workhorse and so competitive, Christie is so clean and quick on her feet, Emily when she comes into wing defence is such a hard worker and never takes a backward step, and now you have young Lola who is so willing to learn and to take on any advice you give her.
“We always say that if we get an interception we want to capitalise on it and I think we managed to do that in the second half against Ouyen.
As the Netballer of the Week, Vercher receives $150 from Mildura Golf Resort, located at 287 Twelfth Street.
