“If you don’t look after the ball, it’s costly,” she said after their 29-25 victory.

“At half-time we were up by three but Koroit came back hard and we didn’t look after the ball enough and at three-quarter-time it was 20-all.

“It was a very low-scoring game.”

The result gave second-placed North Warrnambool Eagles a two-game gap on four rivals.

South Warrnambool, Camperdown, Port Fairy and Koroit, which slipped outside the top five on percentage, are all locked on 24 premiership points. Cobden sits a game clear on top.

“I really felt like it was a hard fought win we needed to have,” Jenkins said.

“We’d gotten into a bit of a lull and were not playing in front and were making super passes.

“We went back to old, basic netball and played solid, as did Koroit.”

Koroit goal shooter Nell Mitchell was limited to 20 goals.

Jenkins said Jordyn Billings played a key role on the influential Saint.

“It was only Nell’s second game back (from injury) and Kasey Owen only played a half,” she said.

“They will get stronger.”

The Eagles’ midcourt, which is without the travelling Kate O’Meara, received a boost with experienced centre Elisha Carter returning.