ORANGE shooter Emily Callaway is confident her side is warming towards its 19th consecutive Central West State League crown, despite the emergence of Dubbo as a force in 2014.
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Citing a short preparation prior to Orange’s opening round hiccup against Dubbo, Callaway believes her side has the inside running heading into the finals of the central west netball premiership set to be staged at Anzac Park on Sunday.
“I think so. I’m confident we’ll be able to take it to Dubbo, if our heads are screwed on,” Callaway said, Dubbo springing a 28-27 upset on Orange back on August 3.
“We definitely won’t be taking them lightly.”
Orange re-grouped in the second round to edge out Dubbo 24-15, and the Life Studio gun says the secret to her side’s progress was continuity.
“I think it’s just a matter of working out which combinations have suited us better,” Callaway said.
“A lot of us played at the state championships which was a great building block for us this season but we’ve had time off since then and we’re just readjusting to what combinations work at the moment.”
Despite the loss, Orange A finished the 12 preliminary rounds in top spot.
Dubbo ended the regular season in second while Orange B has clinched third place ahead of the ever-present Bathurst.
Callaway is expecting to meet Dubbo in the final, but wouldn’t be surprised if faced by any entirely different opponent all together.
“I definitely think they’ll be a team we have to watch for, as well as the other Orange team,” she said.
“They’re playing well at the moment as well.”
Normally a shooter, Callaway says she’s enjoyed spending some time in the mid-court on the representative stage.
“I’ve been spending a bit of time at wing attack, which I’ve really enjoyed,” she said, Erin Johnstone and Sinead Davis two dominant shooters in the Orange Netball Association.
“We’ve got plenty of good shooters in the squad, so it’s nice to feed those girls some ball in the circle.”
The finals of the Central West State League competition begin at 9am on Sunday at Anzac Park.