Nagambie maintained its stranglehold on top spot of the KDL A-grade netball ladder with a clinical 59-45 win over Violet Town.
Coming up against a Towners team riding high after two straight wins, the Lakers’ defence rose to the fore, restricting one of the competition’s best offensive combinations to just 45 goals.
The victory sees Nagambie hold its two-point advantage over fellow KDL heavyweights Shepparton East and Tallygaroopna, and coach Katie Sullivan said she was incredibly proud of her team’s efforts.
“Violet Town put up a very good fight and we were expecting that given they are in the top four and they tend to put up some pretty high scores against some of the better sides,” Sullivan said.
“We knew it was going to be a game of defence this week and we put together a flawless first quarter to be 10 goals up, and as it turned out that was really important for us because they just kept coming.
“The second and third quarters were really tight and at one stage they got back to within five goals, before we steadied and finished strong to come away with the 15-goal win.”
Losing Alicia White in the third term to a broken nose, the Lakers didn’t panic, with their balance of youth and experience making up for what was a big absence.
Sullivan highlighted a number of stellar performances in what she described as a total team effort.
“It all started with our defence, who had to counter some serious height in the Towners’ goalers, and Ella Barnes did an extraordinary job all day long,” she said.
“Riley Alderton, who was our goal shooter for the whole game, was also outstanding. She started hot with 15 first-quarter goals and really set the tone for the victory, while Sharni Lloyd also showed her class and experience, really standing up in that third term when we were challenged.”
Elsewhere, Tallygaroopna was far too good for Avenel, coming away with a crushing 62-27 victory on its home court.
Merrigum made it four wins on the trot on Saturday with a convincing 44-25 win over Lancaster.
Girgarre secured an impressive 45-35 triumph over Murchison-Toolamba to pick up its second win of the season.
Shepparton East remained undefeated with a clinical 64-22 win over Longwood, while Stanhope ensured Undera remained winless, coming away with a comfortable 63-30 victory.