SHOCKED BULLDOGS CONSIGNED TO CATCH-UP NETBALL
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FOR the fifth time in six years it was the Yarrawonga powerhouse that etched its name on the Ovens and Murray netball premiership cup.
A week earlier in the preliminary final the Pigeons had done their homework on Corowa-Rutherglen and did a job on the scoreboard.
Fast forward to yesterday at Lavington Oval and it was the same side, new homework, different tactics but the same end result with a nine-goal win against Wodonga.
Yarrawonga hadn’t led the Bulldogs at a change in any of their three previous meetings this year — yesterday the Pigeons were never headed.
Their defensive pressure across the court set up a wall at Wodonga’s attacking end, Hannah Symes marking the Bulldogs’ Jane Cook out of the game.
The x-factor in the Bulldogs’ line-up was rested in the third quarter when Yarrawonga led by three.
When she returned at the final break they were down by 11.
Pigeons’ centre Laura Bourke was judged best on court but any of the fleet-footed mid-courters — Sarah Wollington and Kristy Davis — repeatedly turned defence into attack and left Wodonga chasing the ball.
Bridget Cassar in the goal circle and playing game 150 was equally outstanding.
Click play on the video below to see the Pigeons celebrating their win. (iPhone users go to video tab in menu).
Yarrawonga coach Kaitlyn Cummins said last year’s grand final loss to Lavington, their first in five years, spurred on her side.
“We certainly didn’t want to go through that feeling again,” she said.
“I thought we laid the groundwork with some incredible defensive pressure, man-on-man, throughout the game.
“When they got those first few goals in the last quarter there were some nerves but we always knew they were going to come back at us and the girls steadied the ship.
“I’m not sure how many will back up next year — most have been involved in the last eight grand finals and it is starting to take its toll on the body.”
Symes said she didn’t have a set plan to combat Cook.
“I just went out there thinking to mix it up — play in front, play behind, play off her,” she said.
“I’ve always felt so helpless against her height so it was a case of just mixing it up, keeping her guessing.
“But it makes it so much easier for me and Kylie Tyrell when that defensive pressure is applied all the way down the court.”
Wodonga coach Kylie Murphy said it was a disappointing end to a great season.
“They jumped us at the start and we had to play catch-up netball; they made us start to question our next move,” she said.
“We needed to make a change and so we decided to take Jane off, get more movement in the circle.
“It worked for us in round two but they countered that today.
“They worked on the supply and we had to force the ball in there, credit to Yarrawonga they did their homework and they got the better of us.
“I thought Anna Avery at centre was consistent, Gemma Grimmond played well but I don’t think any of us really played to our potential.”
Young gun Abbey Jones, 16, was playing in her second Ovens and Murray netball grand final and tasted victory for the first time.
“I’m exhausted, it was such a great game,” she said.
NORTH Albury made it three B grade netball premierships in a row in a nailbiter with Yarrawonga at Lavington Oval yesterday.
The Hoppers led by one going into the final quarter but the Pigeons, inspired by best on court Lauren Mulquiney, hit the front in the dying stages.
With North Albury’s main goaler Paige Mc-Millan double-teamed out of the contest it turned to goal attack Olivia Sinclair and in the end a 44-42 victory.
Captain Alicia Van Emmerik said it was a quality contest.
“We knew they would come back at us, they have any number of players who have played A grade, won premierships,” she said.
“But our girls stood up when it counted.”
Coach Paula Cary said it was a great day for the Hoppers after earlier winning the under-16s.
“A real team effort, they double teamed Paige and Olivia really stood up,” she said.
“Three in a row is just a great result for the club.”
After five misses Lavington C grade coach and player Tamara Mathews finally lifted a grand final cup.
The Panthers started brilliantly and never really gave their North Albury opponents a sniff in the 47-32 victory yesterday.
Live wire centre Annie Bell was judged best on court.
“We only dropped the one game for the year and played really well from the opening whistle,” Mathews said.
“I thought Annie played well but it really was just a great team effort.”
North Albury had dominated the under-16 netball competition all year and carried that form into the decider winning 39-21 over Lavington.
Molly Goldsworthy was judged best on court for the Hoppers.