Kyabram’s faith in its teenage netball stars is well placed if the weekend’s near miss against a team on the cusp of returning to Goulburn Valley netball finals is any indication.
The Bombers, who had a challenging opening to the season against the highly rated Mooroopna in the previous round, were extremely competitive in the first half and trailed by just three at the long break.
Again, the goaling prowess of Natasha Dodos and the mid-court support of Isla Carver and Abby Waasdorp was a feature of the weekend’s game, which Rochester eventually won by 12 after dominating the third quarter.
The three teenagers worked in tandem together on the back of goal keeper Monique Williams’ strong performance in defence.
Bombers captain Jemma Hall had the tough assignment of managing Rochester state league star Teal Hocking, but it was her goaling partner, Tia Webb, who had the biggest impact on the game.
Webb scored 36 goals for the game in the 58-46 Rochester win, while at the opposite end it was the height and athleticism of Dodos that stood out for Kyabram.
Dodos, who regularly shot 50 goals in a single game at under-age level last season, finished with 33 goals. She goaled with Maia Roberts for three quarters before being joined by Carver in the final term.
Kyabram only made the three changes for the match, Waasdorp going into the centre in the final term, Roberts to wing attack and Carver into goals.
Things don’t get any easier for the Bombers this weekend when they play for a third time under lights against another highly ranked team, Euroa.
• Micaela Herbert worked with three different goaling partners to try to keep Kyabram in touch with a dominant Rochester B grade team.
She shot 22 of her team’s 26 goals as Courtney Mason battled against the odds at the opposite end as Kyabram eventually succumbed 26-62.
Ali Hall started in the centre for the Bombers, but was forced to goal defence in support of Mason when Kyabram trailed by 23 at halftime.
• Twelve first-quarter goals from Elli Kiker was a highlight of the Kyabam B Reserve match, but even her 29 goals were not enough to give the team victory.
Rochester trailed the Bombers by three at quarter time, but turned that into a four-goal lead at halftime. Rochester then shattered any hope the Bombers had of victory by piling on 22 third-quarter goals after Kyabram made two changes at the long break.
Taleera De Pasquale played three quarters at goal defence, off the court during the third-term domination, while Rachel McCormick also sat out the third term when Rochester was at its most destructive.
• Kyabram went down by 20 goals in the under-17 game.
Ava Pell’s strong performance in the centre of the court was not enough to help her side to victory.
Pell was supported by winger Grace Kilpatrick and defender-turned-goaler Rose Cunningham. The latter shot 15 goals for the game in support of Jemae Miller.
• Jenna Quattrocchi was best on court as Kyabram won a second under-age game for the afternoon.
With support from Maggie Guinan and Mia Stockdale, the Bombers were 38-26 winners.