Echuca United’s A-grade netball side has suffered defeat at the hands of Finley in round 10 of Murray League netball.
The Eagles are continuing to build connections and structures, with a full squad finally healthy over the past two weeks.
The Cats, however, are more or less a finished product and have been one of the league’s top sides, something they proved on Saturday at Finley Recreation Reserve.
A sluggish scoring start from United saw Finley jump to an early advantage, opening up a 10-goal gap by quarter time.
The Cats continued to extend their lead in the second quarter converting their opportunities with regularity and ending the half ahead by 19 goals.
An improved United made more of an impact on the scoreboard in the third, winning the quarter 13-12, but the Cats closed out the match in the fourth, the final score 64-36 in their favour.
“A bit of a tough one,” Echuca United coach Tanner Edwards said.
“Obviously we knew coming in Finley was a quality side.
“They've been able to knock over some of those higher teams up there as well, so we knew it was going to be a hard match coming in.
“(We had a) bit of a rough start (to) the game, that put us on the back foot coming into that second half.
“In saying that the girls were a lot better in that second half and we were able to convert on the scoreboard a little bit more, but unfortunately especially against quality sides we can't afford to have a slow start.”
With a squad that’s still finding their feet with everyone available, Edwards is happy with the opportunity United has to develop on the training track and execute on game day.
“It's really nice to be able to have a full side now and starting to utilise those set plays and the structures that we've been working on in trainings and pre-seasons and finally now being able to put that out on-court,” she said.
“In saying that we probably didn't utilise those enough yesterday across the board in attack and defence.
“I think it was just something that we probably need to be able to work on a bit more and be able to come back to.”
After facing two of the league’s best, United (1-8-1) next week takes on a more modest challenge in Congupna (2-8) and will be hoping to show what the side is able to accomplish at full strength.
“We play Congupna and then Numurkah next week, so (it’s a) very big opportunity for us to be able to convert on the scoreboard and hopefully be able to get a couple of wins,” Edwards said.
“I think obviously finals contention is probably out for us unfortunately, but in saying that a couple of wins on the board will be a great confidence booster for the girls as well.”