By Russell Bennett
WEST GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL NETBALL COMPETITION
REVIEW – GRAND FINALS
The two games that bookended the netball grand final fixture at Garfield on Saturday were both history-makers, with Cora Lynn claiming back-to-back 13-and-under premiership glory and Dalyston doing the same in A Grade.
Cora Lynn netball president Allan Douglas was simply beaming with pride at what the young group of baby Cobras had managed to achieve, adding: “Those were the worst (weather) conditions I’ve seen under-13 girls play in.
“Their concentration in that weather was just unbelievable.”
The Cobras ultimately prevailed by 11 goals over Inverloch Kongwak, 24 to 13, with Lexis Schade simply outstanding in a best-on-court effort.
Douglas explained how the weather completely changed the way in which the contest was played.
“It goes from being free-flowing, to having a lot of short passes, to getting in front and just holding position,” he said.
“Halfway into the second quarter there was only two goals the difference. The rain and the wind (then) came and we won by 11.
“I think that shows that we adjusted to the conditions.
“It was just an awesome effort. I must admit I had tears in my eyes in the end.
“I was at training with them on Thursday and they trained for about an hour and a half. Some of their execution in that first quarter when the weather was nice was exactly what they trained for.”
The future looks exceptionally bright for the Cobras moving forward, with a whole host of prodigiously talented young guns set to rise through the grades.
Schade is one such player, and she shone through the dreary conditions on Saturday with her excellent shooting despite weather.
In A Grade, the anticipation had been bubbling along all week prior to the decider between Dalyston and Phillip Island.
After the girls from the Island won their way through to the grand final in such convincing fashion over the perennial heavyweights from Korumburra-Bena they had assumed premiership favouritism in the eyes of some. There was a whole host of tantalising questions to be answered throughout the contest – like how the Dalyston defence of league best and fairest Alana McRae and the 16-year-old Gemma Thomas would be able to handle the Island’s experienced twin towers of skipper Janelle Smyth and Kelly O’Neill.
The pace of the contest was frenetic early with turnovers from both sides highlighting obvious nerves.
The Island’s defensive end was right on top early, with scores deadlocked at 6-6 at quarter-time. Dalyston had a clear tactic of trying keep Smyth as far away from goal as possible, employing a team defensive strategy against her in the process.
It was working, with Dalyston ahead by two goals at half-time.
Island player-coach Kate Steel brought about some key changes in the third, putting herself into wing attack with Chelsea Connell then moving into centre.
The matchup seemed to suit the Island, with Connell able to absorb the physical matchup with Hannah McRae.
The Island was seemingly making the most of a momentum swing its way and took the lead with three minutes to play in the third quarter.
They started the last with a real determination and netted the first two goals to open up a four-goal advantage.
But Britt Thomas showed exactly why she’s regarded as one of the best attacking players in the competition, making two crucial back cuts and converting to peg the margin back to two.
With two-and-a-half minutes on the clock, and the scores level, the girls from Dalyston did what they do best and rose to the pressure of the big game occasion – rising to the tempo in defence, and showing real poise and control in attack. They ultimately won by two goals, giving their coach and club legend Jenny McRae the perfect birthday present and their club its third straight A Grade premiership. Kasey Beattie thoroughly deserved best on court honours despite her side falling short by the most heartbreaking of margins, 27-26.
The B Grade title also belonged to Dalyston with the Magpies rebounding from a loss to Kooweerup in the semi-final (and another to the same side earlier in the season) to win 33-29. The result was the first time the Dalyston had defeated the Demons all season.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s C Grade decider was one of the day’s genuine highlights – with Inverloch Kongwak prevailing over Phillip Island by three goals in extra time, 33-30.
The Sea Eagles were up six goals and seemed well in control of the game heading into the final quarter, but the girls from the Island raised the intensity in the last and scored the first three goals of the quarter. The momentum had seemingly shifted their way, and the game was back on level terms with under a minute to play. But the heavens opened with a hail storm to start extra time, and the Sea Eagles were the stronger of the sides to push through it – coming away with a thrilling victory.
In the remaining grand finals on Saturday, Bunyip edged past Dalyston in the 17-and-under decider to win 45 to 43 – despite trailing by two goals with five minutes remaining in the clash; and Phillip Island prevailed over Korumburra-Bena by three goals, 20-17, in the 15-and-under finale.
