RED Cliffs, last year’s A Grade wooden spooners, can now dare to peek ahead at likely finals action after an impressive victory over Imperials at the Brian Weightman Oval courts on the weekend.
What was a bold dream at the start of the season is a near reality now as the Tigers’ 13-goal win in fine conditions saw them pass Robinvale Euston and move into fourth on the ladder, but more importantly move out to an eight-point lead over sixth-placed Imps with five games to play.
Mathematically, they are still vulnerable, but the odds of late August and perhaps early September action are leaning heavily in their favour.
The Tigers were made to work hard by Imperials early in the contest but an 18-goal outburst in the third quarter saw them blow the game open and set up the 57-44 victory.
“Our first quarter was not our best, so what we said at quarter-time was that we were just going to start again,” Tiger coach Romany Bowen said after the key showdown.
“It wasn’t good enough, the level of netball wasn’t up to our standard. So, we gave ourselves a slap on the arse and started again.”
Red Cliffs had winners all over the court, with centre Jacqueline Bell and wing attack Jorja Parker were named their best.
“I don’t name them,” the coach said of that selection process.
“I go to the spectators. I agree with who they chose, I thought Jackie was very good and got all those interceptions and Jorja was strong all day.”
However, she did toss in another couple of names.
“Zara Copley at shooter was her usual stoic self and Morna (Naquto) was great as well,” said Bowen, who donned the goal keeper bib in the third quarter for a brief on-court cameo. “I am just blessed we have such a versatile team.”
Now, Bowen can ponder post-season action with guarded optimism after a vital 2-1 split in their past three games which now leads into a bye and then the interleague break.
“Our last three games, including this one, were going to be tough ones,” she said. “We have a little breathing room and that is nice, but it can be short-lived.
“This A Grade ladder is so unpredictable. With one win you can go up and from a loss you can go down. We just have to stay hungry and competitive.”
Ali Walker’s Imps are the closest challengers outside the five but are two games adrift and get no respite this week when they come up against unbeaten Wentworth.
“Credit to them (Red Cliffs), they played really well and their shooters didn’t miss,” Walker said of Tigers Copley (34 goals) and Jazmin Parker (23).
“We knew it was going to be tough today. Maggie (Monaghan), one of our usual seven, had influenza. So, it meant Meg (McManus) went into defence and it was a tough job for Lottie (Littore) and Eb (Ietto), our young girls, in attack to match the girls at the other end.”
But all is not lost yet for the team in green.
“I’m always thinking finals … as long as Wentworth and Mildura keep winning and others keep changing up (positions) you never know,” she said.
“Finals is always the plan until it’s not able to be the plan.”
