Wickers looking up

Beaconsfield mid-courter Erin Tippett will be one of the stars on show when the Eagles travel to ROC on Saturday. 138811 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By DAVID NAGEL

IT MAY sit in third last place on the ladder, but Berwick is still confident it can put its best foot forward for the remainder of the South East Netball League season.
The Wickers are in unfamiliar territory right now, a team that has completed the last three home-and-away seasons in second, first and fourth placing, is languishing, but showed its best form is just around the corner with a strong showing against premiership favourite Hampton Park last start.
The Wickers’ roller-coaster start to the season (loss-win-loss-win-loss) would suggest some inconsistencies, but coach Melissa Ahearn believes the game against the Redbacks will give her side some real confidence moving forward, starting with this week’s game against Tooradin.
“I was full of positives after the match,” Ahearn said.
“We all brought our best game and showed what we can do when we apply pressure, create turnovers, and really work together as a team. We didn’t finish it off, but now we know if we play our game, and play it strong, we can still do it.”
The Wickers will be too good for the Seagulls at home.
Doveton will be looking to square the ledger at three-three this season when it welcomes Pakenham to Robinson Oval. And with Kate Murphy, Aila Pera, Aggie Seeto and Cara Humbert all in good form, it will achieve that with a five-goal win.
ROC’s defensive structures will need to hold firm if the Kangaroos are to defeat Beaconsfield at Starling Road.
Both teams are scoring 38 goals per game this season, but the Kangaroos defence, led by Laura Quinn, Mel Overdyk and Sophie Tracey, is giving away just 34 goals, eight better than Beacy on 42. But it’s Beacy in a thriller!
Cranbourne coach Simon O’Shanassy will be hoping for a change of fortune when his Eagles host top-of-the-table Hampton Park at Casey Fields.
Don’t be surprised if there’s an upset here, but the Redbacks will just get home in the end.