The last meeting was at La Trobe’s home ground, when Tatura lost 5-0.
When asked about how the girls were preparing ahead of the weekend’s match, coach Laurie Rando was nothing but proud.
‘‘We go in with the same game plan week in week out,’’ he said.
‘‘The girls go in with the mentality to try and get a win.
‘‘They play with a lot of passion.’’
Tatura’s statistics for the season are tracking 2-11-1. It might not seem like much, but Rando said they often struggled to make a side every week.
A few of the girls were out, however, according to Rando, that was the norm.
‘‘We don’t have the luxury of a bench and we haven’t all season,’’ he said.
But that has not stopped the girls from turning up every week.
Despite sometimes having to play the full game with only nine or 10 players, Tatura has not forfeited a game this season.
‘‘This year we have less girls and we have still managed to scrape a couple of (wins) in and a draw,’’ he said.
‘‘But we haven’t forfeited.
‘‘Year by year everyone tries to build.
‘‘It’s about the bigger picture. The girls aren’t doing too bad.’’
He credited this season’s improvement to positive mindsets as well as dedication to training and the game.
‘‘Their hearts are in the right place and they play with a lot of passion,’’ Rando said.With only a handful of games left in the season, Rando said the girls would play out the season with the same attitude they had all season.
‘‘Go in with the mentality to try and get a win,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s all about finishing the season off on a high and having some fun with it.’’
And, true to his word, it was nothing but a reflection on the Ibises’ season, seen most clearly in their recent match against the Colts last week.
With the final score at 5-2 to the Colts (who sit third on the ladder to Tatura’s 11th), Rando was positive.
‘‘Last week the girls showed potential,’’ he said.
‘‘We played third on the ladder last week and put up a good fight.’’
He said the focus for the rest of the season was to enjoy it, while still going into the next couple of games with a winning mentality.
‘‘We can’t make finals,’’ Rando said.
‘‘But we are having a bit of fun, obviously still trying to achieve what we want to achieve.’’
In other matches,Epsom hosts Shepparton United, Strathdale plays the Colts at Beischer, Moama-Echuca hosts Spring Gully while Golden City plays Eaglehawk at Shadforth.
Swan Hill has forfeited 3-0 to Shepparton South and the Reds have a bye.