A huge first-quarter effort helped Learmonth secure its fourth consecutive victory, but coach Jordan O’Keefe is looking for his players to be able to maintain the intensity for all four quarters.
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The Lakies defeated Creswick, 51-24, to remain one of three teams undefeated in the Central Highlands Netball League while sitting in first position on the ladder.
“We’ve had a really strong start,” O’Keefe said.
“We’re in a position now where I have been utilising our under-17 players throughout all senior grades in the last four rounds, so I have been giving them exposure in playing A grade.”
After a 17-3 goal first quarter, Learmonth cruised through the next three quarters as Creswick challenged.
O’Keefe said part of the inconsistent performance came down to adapting to the absence of senior player Catherine Chibnall.
“We probably did miss that extra voice, but we need to find other avenues to goal and work out another way quarter by quarter to get the job done,” he said.
“We did the job early, and while we could have been more consistent it’s okay to have games like that because if you’re winning every game flawlessly then how do you improve on things?”
Two key contributors were circle defenders Emma Farrant and Nicole O’Brien.
“After half time there was a lot of ball heading into the Creswick goal end and they really had to work hard.”
Meanwhile, Springbank and Bungaree continued their impressive starts to the season, joining Learmonth in securing fourth consecutive wins in Central Highlands Netball League competition.
The Tigers gave Clunes its first loss of the season on Saturday with a hard-fought 59-32 victory.
Bungaree ended its game 11 goals clear of a challenging Waubra, which now sits just within the top eight.
Hepburn bounced back from its loss to Bungaree last week with a 11-goal win over Gordon to secure a top four spot at the end of round four.
Meanwhile, Buninyong enjoyed a 57-29 victory in front of a home crowd over Beaufort.
Smythesdale is still searching for its first win of the season going down to Carngham-Linton by 26 points, while Daylesford has also struggled with a 37-point loss to Rokewood-Corindhap.
Newlyn outdid Skipton to finally get the four points this season after falling short against Rokewood last week.
Dunnstown defeated Ballan in a three-goal thriller.
