Both Hepburn and Creswick narrowly won their matches, while Newlyn, Daylesford and Clunes suffered defeats. 

Creswick hosted Clunes in the first match of the season 

In the tight contest, the Wickers managed to hold off the Magpies, winning 44 to 37. 

Last season’s runners-up Hepburn opened the 2013 season against Waubra, winning 42 to 39. 

Burra head coach Gary Cooke said the first round clash could have easily been the preview to the Grand Final. 

He said both teams were showing off their new line-ups for the year. 

“Waubra is definitely a premiership contender, “Cooke said. 

“It was a tough game.”

Cooke said both teams were rusty and had made a lot of mistakes early in the piece; however he said he felt Hepburn was always in control of the match. 

He said Hepburn took a six-goal lead early in the first quarter, before the game started to run goal for goal. 

“It was a typical first round game,” Cooke said. 

“There were unforced errors but we were able to maintain possession.”

Goal attack Skye McDonald shot at 81 per cent and cleverly fed the ball to goal shooter Kristina Closhey. 

In the last quarter Waubra managed to peg back the lead, getting to within two goals; however Hepburn managed to hold off and come away with the win.  Round one also saw Daylesford travel to Ballan. 

Daylesford senior coach Emily Heywood said the new look team took on a polished Ballan side. 

The team went down 54 to 12. 

“It was the team’s first competitive game together so we are still trying to gel together,” Heywood said. 

“As individuals the girls are all great netballers we just need to work out our strengths as a team.”

Heywood hoped the team would be able to bounce back this week, when they played Learmonth. 

Newlyn also went down to Buninyong 71 to 26. 

In other matches, reigning premier Springbank recorded an easy first-up win against Illabarook, while Dunnstown, Bungaree, Learmonth, Ballan and Skipton all got their seasons off to winning starts.