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PDL | Tocumwal prepares for Katamatite showdown

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At the helm: Tocumwal's Abby Wilson and Katrina Chellew are now coaching the A-grade side. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

After an interrupted start to the year, Tocumwal will be looking to continue its winning ways when it travels to take on Katamatite on Saturday.

The Bloods, like most teams in the Picola and District A-grade netball competition, have faced additional weeks on the sidelines to start the season, however the side has been in fine form of late.

Tocumwal will enter Saturday’s game coming off two wins, with a 17-goal victory over Deni Rovers and a one-goal thriller against Blighty setting up an interesting game against Katamatite.

The Tigers have been equally as dangerous on the courts, winning three games in a row and Tocumwal co-coach Katrina Chellew said she hoped her side could get over the line.

“We’ve sort of slowly got games under our belt,” Chellew said.

“Typical of this year we will have disruptions, however we’ll just go out there and do what we do and see how we go.

“We’re still kind of finding our feet, trying to work out combinations and different things.”

Chellew, who stepped into the A-grade coaching position alongside Abby Wilson after the departure of Chanai Johnson, said in both games the side had played this season they had had slow starts, with the Bloods hoping to avoid needing to come from behind to win this weekend.

Co-coach: Katrina Chellew hoped her side could get the win against Katamatite. Photo by Megan Fisher

“We’ve got sort of an older team, which has a sort of ‘never give up’ attitude and it’s definitely shone through in those two games, being able to keep going and knowing that the game is not over until it is over,” she said.

“We’ll go in there hoping that we can pull off the win.”

Both Carrissa Braybon and Renee Phelan have been standouts for Tocumwal this year, however Phelan will miss Saturday’s game through illness.

“They haven’t played together since they were juniors but they’ve just clicked pretty much straight away and have definitely held the team up in the first games so far,” she said.

It should be a cracking contest in Katamatite, with the game set to get under way at 1.30pm.

In other Picola and District round six action, Katandra will play host to a strong Waaia side, while Jerilderie will battle Picola United.

Blighty will welcome table-toppers Tungamah to Blighty, while Strathmerton will be looking to beat Deni Rovers at home.

Katunga, Rennie and Mathoura will all have a week off.