Moama overcame a slow start in its Murray Netball League clash against Echuca United to pull itself back on to the A-grade winners’ list.
The Magpies made it a clean sweep over the Eagles in 2022 with an impressive 60-31 victory at Echuca South Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
After leading by just three goals at the first break, Moama piled on a blistering 23-goal- to-four second quarter and was never troubled from there.
Charlotte Sheldon and Tiarna Steele were the standouts for the Magpies, while a positional switch for Jodie Lake also paid dividends.
Pies’ coach Lisa Drysdale heaped praise on the star trio.
“Coming on in the second (quarter), Charlotte had a big impact,” Drysdale said.
“She’s just outstanding, it’s so hard to describe the impact she can have on a game. Her and Jodie stood out.
“Tiarna Steele was best-on for her defensive pressure. She’s just a solid, consistent defender.”
Drysdale admitted her side took a while to get rolling, but said she was pleased with the response through the final three quarters.
“We lost a bit of momentum and were a bit too stationary in the first quarter,” Drysdale said.
“We wanted to ensure we were playing our best brand and not having a lot of unforced errors.
“We ended up mixing our defenders up and putting Jodie Lake at goal defence, which was good.”
In the absence of Steph Watson, Moama called on Tori Weaver from B-grade and Sienna Agg from the under-17s to fill the gap, and Drysdale was pleased with their first-up performances.
“Both fitted in seamlessly, and it’s great to see the junior development at the club with Sienna possibly being a future A-grader,” Drysdale said.
Moama’s seventh win has the Pies knocking on the door of the top three, locked with Tongala (fourth) on seven wins.
And if not for a draw between Nathalia (third) and the Blues at the weekend, the Pies may well have broken through.
That opportunity will come this weekend against Congupna (seventh), which will be looking at the clash as a chance to break into the top six.
“I feel like we’re on form to have a good, solid game against Congupna,” Drysdale said.
“They’ll be similar in the sense that they’ll be busting to break into the ranks of Mulwala and Barooga. All three of them are fighting for that sixth spot.
“We just want to ensure they don’t get there against us.”
Meanwhile, defeat has consigned Echuca United to its eighth loss of the season, and the Eagles will have a mighty task on their hands when they travel to Deniliquin in round 11 to face the unbeaten Rams.