Kolby Wild is one happy coach, despite her lack of fingernails.
For the second week in a row her Violet Town side has managed to come out on top in a tight Kyabram District League A-grade contest, with a four-goal win over Merrigum last week complemented with a one-goal win over Avenel on Saturday.
“It was intense,” a relieved Wild said on Sunday.
The young Towners burst out of the blocks against the Swans, shooting out to an early seven-goal lead as goal attack Teagan Kuebil got busy with ball in hand.
Avenel bit back, managing to even the ledger by the main break as the game got physical, which was something Wild said shook her young charges a little bit.
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Get this ball out of here, says defender Millie Hill of Lancaster Photo by Max StainkamphImage 2 of 8
Aiming high: Mylie Russ of Lancaster shoots for goal in her side's loss to Shepparton East. Photo by Max StainkamphImage 3 of 8
Rebecca Rendina gets Shepparton East moving after the restart. Photo by Max StainkamphImage 4 of 8
The ball in flight heading towards Kali Frost of Shepparton East on Saturday. Photo by Max StainkamphImage 5 of 8
Jadeja Davies looks to pass the ball off for Lancaster. Photo by Max StainkamphImage 6 of 8
Bianca Alessi looks down the court for an option. Photo by Max StainkamphImage 7 of 8
Bridie Whitford with ball in hand for Lancaster. Photo by Max StainkamphImage 8 of 8
Bianca Alessi gets the ball down the court for Shepparton East on Saturday. Photo by Max Stainkamph“It got very physical for a while which our younger players didn’t adjust to well early on,” Wild said.
After the main break they steadied, pulling away from Avenel again before the Swans stormed back at them.
Playing coach Wild had a front-row seat to Avenel storming at them in the final few minutes, with the Towners missing more than they hit at one end and the Swans sinking goal after goal.
In the end, they held. Just.
“The pressure got to us in front of goal, we had a lot of misses, but we managed to hold on,” she said.
Wild said the second tight win in as many weeks would give the side plenty of confidence, with plenty of new players — and younger charges — making up the side in 2023.
The next few weeks will prove a challenge, too, with Dookie this weekend, followed by perennial contenders Tallygaroopna, then Nagambie in round five.
Attacking that block of games 2-0 instead of 0-2 will fill them with confidence.
“We’re all still getting to know each other, but we were able to walk away with our heads held high, there’s a lot to like from what we’ve shown the last few weeks,” Wild said.
Around the courts, Girgarre defeated Stanhope in another tight affair 34-30, while Rushworth accounted for Longwood by six goals, 37-31.
Shepparton East accounted for Lancaster by 10 goals, 46-36, while Tallygaroopna thumped a hapless Undera and Murchison-Toolamba easily accounted for Nagambie.