HE got the role via a twist of fate, but new North Wagga netball coach Matt Schofield couldn't have asked for a better start to his debut A-grade campaign.
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Despite losing a number of established players, including three-time Farrer League medallist Ruby Porter, and replacing them with junior talent, the Saints have won their first three matches after Saturday's 55-38 win over East Wagga-Kooringal.
Schofield began coaching with the club's juniors but was given the A-grade job after enquiring if any senior teams were seeking a coach for this year.
He said the team will get a proper gauge of their progress in the next two games against traditional rivals Charles Sturt University this weekend, and defending champions and fellow unbeaten outfit The Rock-Yerong Creek next week.
"I've pulled a few juniors up, we've got a 15 year old (defender Rachael Galvin) playing A grade," Schofield said.
"The way I looked at is was North Wagga was rebuilding and losing that many A grade players, you have to look at something.
"We could have filled an A grade team with older players that are thereabouts but aren't going to get much better, but I thought it was a good idea to blood some young ones and get them used to the main environment.
"We're pretty happy, you can't ask for much more than that (three straight wins), but the next two weeks will be a lot harder."
The Saints have won all three games by comfortable margins, but Schofield still says there's plenty of scope for improvement.
"I didn't really know what to expect, to be honest, but there's still a lot to work on," Schofield said.
"On the weekend they didn't play anywhere near as well as what they can. There's still a lot of areas we need to work on and f we can win three games not playing at our best, it's only up from here.
"There's only two girls in the A grade team who have played together, it gives me something to look forward to and I've seen glimpses of good things."
In other results from Saturday The Rock-Yerong Park thrashed Marrar 60-10, Northern Jets moved into the top five with a 57-40 win over Barellan and Temora accounted for Coleambally 49-40.
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