RUSSELLS Creek is quickly becoming accustomed to down-to-the-wire netball matches.
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The Rhiannon Cuomo-coached side claimed a third-consecutive win when it defeated East Warrnambool 29-25 at Reid Oval on Saturday.
The triumph came one week after a three-goal win against Merrivale, while its season opener against Deakin University finished with a one-goal loss.
Cuomo, one of the Kangaroos’ best alongside defensive sidekick Bree Eccles, said her players had to fight to get past East Warrnambool.
The Kangaroos trailed 12-10 at half-time but shot clear with a 12-5 third term as the first-year coach rang in the changes.
Michelle Osborne came into goal attack, replacing Jess Price, while the midcourt and defensive end also underwent a reshuffle.
Osborne finished with 12 goals and Emma Rogers hit 11. Midcourter Stacey Dunkley was also influential.
Brooke Williams shot 16 goals for the Bombers, who credited defenders Abbie Sheridan and Holly Jones as their best.
“I said to the girls at the end of the day four points are four points, we’ve had a win and that’s good,” Cuomo said. “But I want to go back to last week (when we beat Merrivale) to move forward.
“We’ve got Panmure coming up in the next two weeks and if we play like we did today we’re going to lose by 50 goals.
“I was ecstatic after last week against Merrivale. I’d like to go back to that to move forward.”
Cuomo said the Kangaroos’ defence kept them in the match in the first half, with shooters from both sides struggling to have an impact.
“We got intercepts, we just had to convert them. It wasn’t very free-flowing at either end,” she said.
The win lifted Russells Creek into fifth spot with a 3-1 record. Dennington and Timboon Demons also have 12 points. Kolora-Noorat, Deakin University and Allansford are hot on their heels with 2-2 records while Merrivale is the sole team with a 1-3 record.
By contrast, East Warrnambool remains winless despite sending scares through Russells Creek and Deakin University in recent weeks.
In other matches, Timboon Demons shot the highest score of the round in their 67-34 victory against Nirranda at Timboon Recreation Reserve.
Steph Jamieson claimed bragging rights from her mother Kim Jamieson when Allansford beat Deakin University 44-33 at Allansford Recreation Reserve.
Dennington strung together back-to-back wins by defeating South Rovers at Dennington Recreation Reserve.
The Good Friday match finished with Old Collegians surging early, en route to a 43-35 win against Merrivale at Davidson Oval.