General News
28 April, 2021
Cobden extends winning open netball start
COBDEN coach Sophie Hinkley admits her side is thrilled with its unbeaten start to season 2021 after it overcame Koroit on Saturday.
COBDEN coach Sophie Hinkley admits her side is thrilled with its unbeaten start to season 2021 after it overcame Koroit on Saturday.
For the third successive week the Bombers have faced a tough challenge, but once again the 2019 grand finalist has risen to the top to claim victory.
After scores were level at half-time, Cobden gritted its way to the lead in the third quarter before it held on to secure a 53-48 victory.
Hinkley was delighted to walk away with the four points from the contest, with the win extending her side’s winning streak to three games.
“We are super happy (with our start),” she said.
“We knew the first three games would be a big challenge and I think we all had that knot in our stomach before all three of those games because we didn’t know where we sat and because we know how tough those games would be.
“We are super happy with that (to be unbeaten) and it now gives us the opportunity to add depth into the team as well as only get stronger from here.”
Hinkley was impressed with her side’s consistency throughout the match but noted there was still improvement to come from her side.
“We probably played more consistently against Koroit (than past weeks) but our defence didn’t stand out as much as other weeks in terms of creating turnovers,”she said.
“We were really good at converting our opportunities (in attack) and capatilising in getting the ball back but when you’re facing a tall shooter like Nell (Mitchell) for sure we’d like the ability to turn more balls over.
“We’re still getting used to our timings and our flow but it definitely improved against Koroit.
“It was a nice game to watch.”
The Bombers opted to make use of its interchange for the first time this season, with goalies Molly Hutt and Jaymie Finch rotating throughout the contest.
The pair offered plenty for the Bombers in attack, adding 11 and nine goals respectively alongside Emily Finch, who was best on court in a 33 goal performance.
Hinkley was pleased with the pair’s output after she identified her side was falling away after the main break.
“We played Jaymie and Molly a half each in open and division one because I felt in the second half we needed fresh legs,” she said.
“I was transparent with the girls that it (the change) would happen at half-time regardless given the last two weeks we dropped away a bit after half-time and I was pre-empting that dip in intensity once again.
“Molly played beautifully. She had a really high work rate and worked hard to get pure shots and she communicated with the girls which is all I could ask for.
“Jaymie also showed us what she has done over the last three games and once again she started really well. It was really positive for us and as a coach to be getting what you expect of your players is a really nice outcome.”
The Bombers will now head to Gardens Oval to face Port Fairy, with the Seagulls coming off a loss to Terang Mortlake.
Hinkley said she had minimal knowledge of the Seagulls line-up but was hopeful her side could enter the break with a 4-0 win-loss record.
“Port Fairy and Terang Mortlake are probably similar sides in that they both have a couple of really good players and have quality (within the line-up) but don’t have as many strong bodies or as much experience as they have in the past,” she said.
“Port Fairy is a bit unknown, I don’t know much about them so it’s a good chance for us to continue working on things we want to try and consolidating what we’ve been working on.”
Meanwhile, the Bombers senior football team could not sustain a strong start against the competition’s benchmark.
The Bombers held a two point lead at quarter-time of its contest but could do little from that point onwards as the Saints slammed home 22 goals to two to record a 24.14 (158) to 4.6 (30) victory.
Patrick Smith was the Bombers best in the losing performance, while Grady Rooke, Ryleigh McVilly, Josh Woods and Sam Giblett also performed well.
Cobden now has the opportunity to put its first win on the board against Port Fairy this weekend, with the Seagulls also winless after the first three games.