Weekend netball preview: Echuca face formidable foe, Tongala test coming

Echuca has already taken out the reigning premier in Seymour, which isn't the same team it was when it won the premiership, but the 2019 runners-up in United look to be better than ever.

United haven't looked even troubled so far this season - 233 goals for to 110 against is a huge tally (Echuca, for the record is 227 for, 110 against), and it will take one heck of a performance to stop them.

But this is what we've been waiting for.

These two teams are so evenly matched in almost every area, you know it has the makings of match of the year.

And if you're Echuca, how big of a statement would it be to knock off the top side in your biggest challenge of the season and show you mean business.

●ECHUCA United will have a bye this weekend, with Numurkah not fielding an A grade side this season in the Murray Netball League.

●MOAMA has another opportunity to work on its game plan and what it wants to improve on as a side this week against Cobram.

Cobram is one of two sides yet to win a game this year and have a few things it needs to work out in its game.

Moama is looking solid, but the excellence of past seasons isn't quite there - not yet anyway.

That's to be expected. It will come with time as the side gets more used to playing together, and match simulation is no match for the actual game.

So, the Magpies have a chance here to put what they know into action, and it should be a big opportunity to get better and closer to the side they want to be.

●ANOTHER test for the young Tongala brigade comes this weekend.

Tongala's only loss so far this season has come against competition leader Nathalia.

Well, this week the third placed Blues face the second placed Deni Rams.

Deni, like Nathalia, is undefeated.

Deni is also a team which has played a lot of netball together, knows its game style incredibly well and can always execute it.

That's the challenge for the Blues.

This is the kind of side they want to be in the next few years, a cohesive unit who can play to each others strengths and perfectly execute the game plan.

And they are getting there - we can see it first hand already.

This game provides an opportunity to either say "we are at this level,” or to see it in action and know what they have to do to get there.

●THE fate of Mathoura could go two ways this week in the Picola and District Netball League.

Last week's draw to Picola United is an obvious confidence boost for the side after two disappointing losses.

But emerging out of that was an ankle injury to shooter Billi Johns, and if that lingers, it throws the balance of Mathoura's attack up in the air.

The Timbercutters covered Johns’ absence admirably against United, but the question is, can they do it again against a slightly tougher opposition in Tocumwal?

With the Bloods shooting well above Mathoura, any help it can get in attack will be crucial.

●DESPITE improved effort week-to-week, LBU's biggest weakness continues to be its fitness though its unlikely this can be solved in just one week.

The short-term pain won't go away for LBU, with a clash against Heathcote District Netball League ladder-leader Elmore tomorrow a true test of its endeavour.

As long as the Cats put everything they have into this clash, there isn't a lot to lose.

Tough lessons can breed opportunities to learn; this should be their key focus this week.

●LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER is on the way to its first win - but Colbinabbin this week may not be it.

A younger Bombers side is learning on the fly as it looks to rebuild, and though improvement is evident, the Hoppers look far too strong at this point to realistically predict an upset.

Club supporters should want to see the Bombers throw everything at the Hoppers, and if they can stick with them for the majority of the match - it'll be a win in most people's book.

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