Hepburn coach Gary Cooke says the focus remains on putting together four quarters after letting Beaufort back into its A-grade Central Highlands Netball League clash on the road on Saturday.
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While the Burras held on to win by eight goals, 48-40, with Springbank next after a league bye, maintaining the effort will play a crucial role in securing victory.
Cooke said dominating the majority of the game to lead, 28-41, at the final break had helped the Burras, before the team switched off just as the Crows put a foot down, capitalised on Hepburn errors and converted their shots.
Containing its error rate had been something Hepburn had spoken about before heading into the game.
“They had some targets to reach and they went out and did it beautifully for three quarters, and it just felt like they had control of the game before that last quarter,” Cooke said.
“We have a young team, so it’s all a learning curve for them and they are holding up to the pressure well.
“What I’ve found in the quarters where we’ve fallen apart is it has more been a case of us making the mistakes rather than the opposition forcing us to make the mistakes.”
One of the stand outs for Hepburn was Tara Ford, who has returned from maternity leave and is playing some of her best netball. While Elizabeth Denouden was a standout in wing attack.
“She was a real general down there in attack,” Cooke said. “She is a great communicator with the young girls because we have a really young attacking line from our centre to our goalers and she is just a really experienced general down there.
“She lets the girls know about their movement and placements on court.”
Cooke said defensively the midcourt did well to stop the ball getting fed into Beaufort’s goaling circle and give the defenders the best chance to intercept or turn the ball over. But fatigue had set in late in the game with the physical approach.
“While we are not sitting where we want to be for this time of the year, we are also fairly happy with how we’ve gone,” Cooke said.
Pleased with their skills and connections on court, now the Burras just need to maintain their effort.
In other games across the league, Clunes defeated Daylesford, 18-40, on the road and Creswick overcame Gordon on home court with a nine-goal victory.