The Narromine Hawks are on the board in the Rawson Homes Premiership A Grade competition and captain Trudy Althofer thinks her side is only going to get better.
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The Hawks, back in the top grade of Dubbo netball after taking out A Reserve Grade last season, got the ball rolling with a hugely entertaining two-goal win over the Inspire Rebels on Saturday.
It was the Narromine side's first win of the season after being beaten by two-time defending premier Fusion Heat in the opening round of the 2019 season.
Despite going down to Heat in the season opener, the performance was a promising one and after leading at half-time the Hawks held off a late rally from the Rebels to win 42-40.
"It was really nice. It was a hard-fought win, too," Althofer said.
"We started well but they came back really well and they're going to go from strength-to-strength as the competition goes on, but we're going to as well."
The match was one of two thrillers in round two, while the other two games were blowouts.
Nyngan Cougars edged out St Comebacks 29-27 while Heat stamped their authority on the competition with a stunning 98-32 win over St Diamonds.
Fusion Fire beat Macquarie Hornets 62-39 in the round's other game.
It was a pretty great effort all-round. It takes a team to win a game.
- Narromine's Trudy Althofer
In the round's early match, the Hawks came out with plenty of confidence and shot out to a 14-7 lead after the first quarter at the Nita McGrath Courts.
But the Rebels, a mainly young side featuring a number of junior representative players which is also new to A Grade, began to work itself into the game.
Tierra Hausia, one of the Rebels' more experienced players, entered the game at goal shooter in the second quarter.
It took Hausia a few minutes to find her range against a consistent Hawks defence, while Narromine's Denise Skinner and Renee Matheson ensured the side in black and red maintained its lead.
The Hawks went into the main break leading 22-16 but the third quarter belong completely to the Rebels.
Hausia got things going and when combining with goal attack Zachiah Riley the Rebels started to work their way back into the game.
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Hausia's shooting and some strong defence from Rachel Fairman saw them go into the final term with a share of the lead at 31-all and they quickly took control early in the fourth.
But some key misses and turnovers, as well as Narromine's ability to sink late shots, saw the Hawks get in front and they held on in the final minute to secure a maiden A Grade win.
"They're doing so well and I saw some improvement just from last week," Althofer said of her side.
"We had a new player as well who we only met this morning after she was away last week and she fit in really well. There's going to be some good combinations."
While the late shots from Skinner made sure of the win, Althofer was delighted with the effort of all her players, with Meg Morris providing plenty of energy in defence and attack from midcourt.
"The shooters really lifted and they're going to get stronger the more they play together and they'll start feeling where each other is without even knowing it," Althofer said.
"It was a pretty great effort all-round. It takes a team to win a game and everyone did really well."