.png)
Article and imagery courtesy of the Bendigo Advertiser, written by Kieran Iles, published on the 7th March at 12:38pm, updated at 4:53pm. Imagery captured by Darren Howe
Wilson Storage Southern Saints 54 def Bendigo Strikers 41
View Match Image Gallery Here
As disappointing as a loss can be, Bendigo Strikers head coach Tracey Brereton knows there are sunny days ahead for her VNL championship team.
The Strikers marked their long-awaited Victorian Netball League debut with a 41-54 loss to the Southern Saints at the State Netball Centre on Wednesday night.
While it was not the result they had craved, there were exciting glimpses from the league newcomers.
Down by one goal at quarter time (13-14), the Strikers were able to hit the front early in the second term, only for the Saints to steady and push the margin out to five goals with about six minutes to play.
The Strikers made the most of a Saints player being sent off for two minutes for rough play by scoring three unanswered goals, but lost momentum when one of their own, defender Ruby Turner, was sent to the sidelines less than a minute later, as the Saints ended the half eight goals up.
Trailing by 10 goals midway through the third quarter, the Strikers showed plenty of resolve to manufacture five unanswered goals and breathe plenty of life into the contest.
But it was as close as they would come, with the Saints - led by Vixens training partners Emily Andrew and Lily Graham in the goaling circle - ending the quarter six goals ahead and claiming the match by 13 goals.
There was clearly no shame in defeat for the Strikers, who have already made tremendous strides in their first six months as an entity, after only securing a VNL licence last August.
"It was a great start, to be honest," Brereton said post-match.
"That was an established club we played against and we were down by a goal at quarter time and then we were up (in the second). "They went right ahead and then we clawed it back a few times.
"Really, there were so many great takeaways from it.
"I know some of the girls will be disappointed with aspects, but there are so many more positives than negatives come out of it.
"It was a great hit out for our first game.
"I was super proud of the girls. The thing that came out of it is that we need all of them. We need all of our players.
"Everyone has a role to play and you could see all the different combinations that we chucked out there to try and make it happen.
"The margin probably doesn't represent what the game looked like, or how tough the girls performed."
The Strikers were without their captain Meg Williams for what was a historic first game in the state's premier netball competition.
With the Championship Squad having a bye scheduled for next week, Brereton said the skipper was expected to be back in action for the club's round three contest against reigning premiers City West Falcons on March 27.
Comments