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TORQUAY star Courtney Cuolahan says the 2018 BFL season is the most competitive she has experienced after the Tigers suffered their first loss of the year.

“You want that in a league ... it’s the most even the competition has been in years,” she said.

Ocean Grove made a statement of intent in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash, overpowering the previously undefeated Tigers 54-41 at Shell Rd Reserve, thanks to the shooting of Abbey Middleton (40 from 48) and the standout performance of Elyse Howard.

Cuolahan said the Grubbers were the biggest threat as the season currently stands.

“Just looking at scorelines, they seem really driven and they are one of the toughest opponents we’ve come across,” Cuolahan said.

Ocean Grove coach Howard was happy with her side’s ability to string together four consistent quarters of netball against strong opposition.

The Grubbers were six goals in front at quarter-time and blew the match wide open in the second to lead 31-18 at the main break.

“We kept up the intensity for the whole game against a quality team. We knew that Torquay’s closing speed is good so every ball we went for we attacked,” Howard said.

“The intensity was up the entire game from both sides.”

Injuries have ravaged the defensive stock at Ocean Grove, with Michelle Williams suffering an ankle injury in the second quarter.

“We’re now down to three available defenders out of the eight we had at the start of the season across the A and B squads,” Howard said.

“Luckily Michelle’s injury isn’t anything too severe, so hopefully she’ll be back soon.”

Integral to the match intensity were the standout performances by shooters from both teams.

Middleton stood her ground well in goalshooter to consolidate the Grubbers’ scoreline, while the Tigers’ 15year-old shooting sensation Daisy O’Kane (26 goals) continued to prove herself against older opponents, performing well in goal shooter again on Saturday.

“She’s developing well and we’re so happy with how far she’s come already this season,” Cuolahan said.

Both clubs are optimistic about the future, despite its challenges.

For Ocean Grove, the aim is to not lose any more players to injury. “We have an empty bench at the moment so we do need to fill that void ... We were tired but we were hungry and I’m really proud of the girls,” Howard said.

For Torquay, Saturday’s loss is an indication of what the side needs to work on.

“It was a good wake-up call to come up against a quality side ... we’ll go back and focus on structures a bit more, and that’s OK,” Cuolahan said.