Kyabram will be planning to exorcise the demons of the opening three weeks of the A-grade Goulburn Valley netball season which has seen it front up against three of the competition’s top four teams.
All three of those games have been under lights, a 31-goal loss to top-of-the-ladder Mooroopna, a second-round loss to Rochester (currently fourth, by 12 goals) and a 32-goal third-round defeat at the hand of second-ranked Euroa.
There is little respite on the horizon for the Bombers, who this weekend face fifth-ranked Shepparton United. United won its opening-round match with perennial finalist Echuca and then had another win last weekend against Benalla.
The Bombers sit 10th on the ladder, one of three teams yet to register a win for the season (the others are Mansfield and Benalla).
Kyabram has a round-five appointment with Mansfield, which its young charges will be eyeing as a chance to get their first win of the season.
Last season the Bombers finished with three wins and a draw, in 10th spot on the ladder, and made a decision to focus on youth in their A-grade line-up.
Isla Carver, Natasha Dodos and Abby Waasdorp have led the charge, but so far the challenge of coming up against some of the strongest teams in the GVL has been too tough.
On Saturday night against Euroa the half-time difference was 19, Dodos scoring 10 of her team’s 12 goals for the half in tandem with Maaia Roberts and Carver, the latter who played in the centre, in goals and in defence.
Dodos and defensive duo Jemma Hall and Monique Williams were the only players to stay in the same role for the entire game.
After half-time Dodos scored all 19 goals for the Bombers as they were outscored by only 12 and finished 31-63 losers in the round-three contest.
• Kyabram’s B-grade unit used nine players in its 34-goal loss to Euroa, Jasmine Reid the stand-out player in defence for the Bombers.
Micaela Herbert shot 13 of her team’s 15 first-half goals, but the Bombers managed just two goals in response to Euroa’s 15 in the third term and eventually lost 24-58.
Captain Alexandra Hall spent a half in centre and a half alongside Reid in the defensive goaling circle, finishing among the best players and Molly Carver also rated a mention on her wing.
• Thirty goals from B-Reserve goaler Elli Kiker was almost enough to get her team across the line in its match with the Magpies.
Kyabram led by one at quarter-time, but the match was all square at half-time. Euroa broke away to a five-goal lead at three-quarter-time and despite outscoring its opposition in the last Kyabram lost by two (37-39).
Laura Papalia was the outstanding mid-court player on the evening, while Rachel McCormack filled holes throughout — playing on a wing, in the centre and at goal attack in the thrilling final term.
Taleera De Pasquale was the Bombers’ best defender in its narrow loss, leaving the team just outside the top six after three rounds.
• At three-quarter-time of the under-17 game, Kyabram was tied with Euroa, but an eight-goal final term from Rose Cunningham gave it the edge and a two-goal victory.
The 49-47 result was the Bombers’ first win of the year and came as its defensive duo of Stella Trezise and Grace Burnett were two of the best players on the court.
Jemae Miller (23 goals) and Cunningham (26 goals) combined well in the goaling circle and Ava Pell was the main distributor for the team in the centre.
Kyabram has a chance to improve on its ranking when it faces sixth-ranked Shepparton United, before three successive games teams below it on the ladder.
• At half-time of the under-15 game Kyabram and Euroa could not be separated, but after the long break it was all one-way traffic as the Magpies shot away to a 12-goal win.
The 45-33 result came despite Ella Hooper shooting 26 of her team’s goals and Mia Stockdale leading the mid-court.
Ruby Baker played in three different roles for the match and Jenna Quattrocchi was the backbone of the defence.
Kyabam faces three teams which are sixth of below on the ladder in the coming weeks, which should allow it to improve on its current eighth ranking.