PORT Fairy co-coach Nicole Dwyer said her recent return to netball wasn’t easy, particularly as she had to line up against Terang Mortlake’s Megan McKenzie. “To come back and front up against her in your first game back is pretty tough,” she said. Things don’t look like they will get any easier for Dwyer, as she is likely to match up on leading mid-courters Kate Dobson or Kate Foster when the Seagulls host Koroit tomorrow. New mum Dwyer said she pulled up a bit sore last Sunday. “I also thought having nine to 10 months off my knee might help but it’s pretty sore too,” she said. The netball-crazed veteran played a half in centre, which may sound strange but she explained it was good logic. “You don’t have to make as many explosive leads like you do in wing attack,” she said. “I was dying to get back and play, especially when the team hasn’t been going so well. It’s easier to direct the younger ones on the court rather than yell at them from the side,” she quipped.

GRAND final day timeslots are not the only ones Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) will change this season. HFNL chief executive officer Stephen Soulsby revealed this week that the timeslots in the elimination, qualifying, semi and preliminary finals would remain the same as the home-and-away season. In previous years, the league has had only one court operating during the finals series, with the 13 and unders starting at 9am, followed by other grades on the hour. Soulsby said keeping times the same as the home-and-away rounds would ensure larger crowds at the senior netball and football matches.

WARRNAMBOOL City Netball Association will host a level one umpiring course on Sunday, August 1. The course — which will be at the association courts on Caramut Road — is from 9.30am to 1.30pm. Application forms are available on the Netball Victoria website.

WARRNAMBOOL City’s under 13 side tasted victory at the Portland Netball Association lightning premiership at Flinders Park last Sunday. The young side prevailed in a thriller, triumphing over Portland Cubbets by a single goal. Warrnambool City also advanced to the under 17 final but went down to Portland Tigers by the narrowest of margins.

PORTLAND’S Ebony Rolph represented the 17 and under South Australian team at the Inter Academy Netball Tournament last week in Maitland, New South Wales. It came after the talented teenager’s standout performance at the 2010 regional championships. The South Australian side finished the tournament with five wins and five losses.