Sometimes your opposition is just going to be too good for you and Mathoura found that out the hard way on Saturday as they suffered a 25-goal loss to Katunga.
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In patches, the Timbercutters matched the Swans at Mathoura Recreation Reserve but couldn’t stick with the visitors for the whole four quarters.
Mathoura coach Rohan Starkey said his side has had an ongoing issue with playing four quarters of netball.
‘‘Every week we are playing in patches at the moment,’’ he said.
‘‘The Swans were just too slick and physical for us across the four quarters.
‘‘But we still have positives to take away from the game.’’
One of those positives was the efforts of Kylie Atkinson, who played her best game of 2019 according to Starkey.
‘‘Kylie displayed her versatility by playing at both ends of the court,’’ he said.
‘‘It can be difficult to switch your mentality during a game.
‘‘She deserves all the credit which comes her way.’’
The Timbercutters faced an uphill battle when goalshooter Shantelle Worsnop left the court following a knock to the head.
Unfortunately she was unable to return to the game.
‘‘It’s really disappointing when you lose a player of Shantelle’s quality,’’ Starkey said.
‘‘We tried to cover her absence but we found it difficult.’’
Mathoura will now move their focus to taking on a winless Blighty this weekend.
‘‘It’s all about bouncing back,’’ Starkey said.
‘‘As a group we know the areas we have to work on and getting to training will help that.
‘‘We just need to keep developing.’’
Final score, Katunga 51 to Mathoura 26.
Awards: Echuca Hotel - Kylie Atkinson (WA, WD, GA, GK); Border Inn - Janelle Handy (GK, GS).
Results in other grades were as follows:
B grade: Katunga 59 to Mathoura 28. Awards: Central IGA - Tayla Gittens (GD, GK); Border Inn - Melissa Vanzetta (WD).
C grade: Mathoura 39 to Katunga 34. Awards: Numanz Embroidery - Madeline French (WA);
Harvey Norman - Chelsea Williams (C).
C reserve: Katunda 30 to Mathoura 18. Awards: Echuca Hotel - Jameena Jackson (WD); Harvey Norman - Leanne Smith (C).
Under 17s: Katunga 35 to Mathoura 31. Awards: Kickstart Cafe Mathoura - Chloe Van Zutphen (WA, C); McDonald’s - Melody Cheep (C, GD).