Sport
7 June, 2022
Bombers go down in the last against Eagles
COBDEN open netball side fell away in the last quarter against North Warrnambool after leading for much of the second half to lose 34-40.
COBDEN open netball side fell away in the last quarter against North Warrnambool after leading for much of the second half to lose 34-40.
In a thrilling game of netball both sides vied for control of the court, forcing errors through constant pressure.
The Bombers and Eagles were in lockstep through the first half, finishing the first quarter 11-all and going into half-time at 19-all.
Cobden wrested the ascendancy through the third quarter, leading by six goals at one stage but losing ground through the end of the period to go into three-quarter time ahead 30-27.
A resurgent effort from the Eagles caused Cobden to lose composure, and the Bombers struggled to score in the fourth quarter, eventually going down to North Warrnambool by six goals.
The loss sees Cobden drop back to fourth, overtaken by Warrrnambool who won at home by 14 goals against Port Fairy, and the Eagles sit just two points in fifth spot behind the Bombers.
Cobden coach Sophie Hinkley said despite a quality performance for three quarters, her side needed to win in situations like these.
“It was a really great game, very skilful, and both teams caused each other to make lots of errors,” she said.
“We were victims of a momentum shift at the wrong time, but that’s something we’ve done before and we need to overcome it."
“We only scored four goals in the last quarter, which can’t happen if you want to be one of those top sides.”
Hinkley believes her side can make top three by the end of the season, but will need to beat teams above them to get there now they’ve dropped to fourth.
“I expect we’ll be fighting for third throughout the second half of the season,” she said.
“We just have to do our own job over the second half of the season and not worry about what other teams are doing."
“It makes it a lot easier if you just win. Then you’re not sitting there biting your nails worrying about who’s going to beat who.”
Hinkley and fellow Bomber Nadine McNamara also coached the under 17 Hampden League side to victory in the association championships on Sunday, and she praised the players who represented Cobden Football Netball Club in the various age groups.
“We had Jess Bouchier, Lara Taylor and Grace Taylor in the under 17s, Ruby Darcy and Matilda Darcy in the under 15s, and Milla Darcy in the under 13s,” she said.
“The under 17s and under 13s won and the 15s came second, so all the teams won through to the next round in Melbourne in July."
“We were really happy with that representation from our club.”
