Four-quarter consistency key for the Storm

A top-six clash awaits in round eight of Horsham District league A Grade netball.

Jeparit-rainbow will travel to Rupanyup Recreation Reserve to take on the Panthers, with both teams looking for a fifth win.

Jeparit-rainbow coach Penny Fisher said her team had endured a difficult couple of weeks, facing last season’s premier EdenhopeApsley and Kalkee in consecutive games.

“We were definitely competitive against Kalkee and again last week against Laharum, only going down by 11,” she said.

“It seems to be just one quarter each week that is really hurting us.”

Fisher said in order to be competitive against the top sides, her team needed to be playing all four quarters consistently.

She said this would again be the focus as her players prepared to take on Rupanyup.

“We have a few new faces in our side this year down our goal end and it has taken some time to connect on the court,” she said.

“Each week we can see it starting to happen, so we just need to be patient and keep working at it.”

Fisher praised the early season form of Rupanyup and said her side would have to be at its best to compete.

“This will take a full team effort,” she said.

“We will need to try and avoid bad habits if things aren’t going our way.

“This seems to be what we do – when things get tight, we go back to doing things we are comfortable with.

“We want to get the ball moving and see where it takes us.”

Fisher said Hannah Mcillree and Meg Werner were starting to put together a strong partnership in the goal circle.

She said Maddison Marra had adjusted well to the centre court, while still being a goalie option.

“We have a bit for versatility, so if things aren’t working, we are able to change things,” she said.

Rupanyup coach Georgia Hiscock said she took plenty of positives from a round-seven win against Harrow-balmoral, crediting the team’s efforts.

“We started out of the blocks well. It was good to get back on the winners’ list,” she said.

Hiscock said the ‘thrown-together’ team that was on the court against the Southern Roos had been a trend throughout the Panthers’ season.

She said captain Georgia Kramm had been an ‘extremely consistent’ performer in a constantly changing team.

Hiscock said she was expecting a tough game from Jeparit-rainbow, but the round eight encounter was not crucial to finals hopes.

“It’s a new team for us again, with lots of us being new to the league,” she said.