Kyabram District League produced several ripping netball contests in the opening round, but none quite as thrilling as Violet Town’s four-goal victory against Merrigum.
The Towners started like a colt out of the turnstiles but were forced to fend off a spirited comeback from the Bulldogs, claiming a 36-32 victory to kick off their campaign.
Winning coach Kolby Wild was jubilant after notching up the first win.
“It was really pleased with the girls, we fought hard all day and were able to come across with the win which is what you want in the first round,” she said.
“We’ve had a few practice matches but we’ve always had girls unavailable, so it was good to all finally be out there and put everything together that we’ve been working on at training.
“We had a good lead to start off with, and then we made some changes which didn’t quite work, and they came back at us but we just manage to hold onto it which was good.
“It was a really high-intensity game, it was very fast-paced all day so a good first match, really.”
Though the scoreboard took a while to get ticking, Violet Town gained the early ascendancy to hold a 9-2 lead at the opening break.
The seven-goal advantage blew out to 11 at the half-time break, but the Bulldogs refused to lay down as Laura Gordon’s side bit back with gusto in the following two terms.
Merrigum outscored the host in the third and fourth quarters, but it wouldn’t be enough to secure four points as Violet Town leaned on the defensive expertise of Kate Sloane.
Sloane earned best on court merits while goaler Imy Law impressed at the other end, though it was the debut of 15-year-old Macey Ross at wing attack which brought plaudits from Wild.
“She was our second best, so she did really well all day,” Wild said.
“She fought hard, she kept her head up which as a 15-year-old sometimes is really hard to do.”
Last year’s premier Tallygaroopna also started the new season with intent, shooting the lights out at Rushworth Recreation Reserve to beat the Tigers 61-19.
Dookie United got the job done against Murchison-Toolamba 58-28, Avenel manufactured a 14-goal win over Undera and Lancaster saw off Longwood by 14 goals.
In other matches, Shepparton East sailed past Girgarre 46-25 and Nagambie contested Stanhope on Sunday with the scores yet to be posted online.