BY NATHAN DOLE
ANOTHER upset victory is in the sights of Castlemaine’s team as it takes on Gisborne in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball preliminary final on Saturday.
The Magpies are just a win from capping a remarkable rise of no A-grade team a few years ago to now be in the grand final.
Gisborne stands in Castlemaine’s way of doing so on the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The clash between the Bulldogs and Magpies starts at 3.20pm.
Whatever the result, Castlemaine or Gisborne will mark a long-awaited return to an A-grade final showdown with Sandhurst on September 23.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne began its finals campaign by scoring a 37-31 win against Kangaroo Flat in the qualifying final.
Next up was the unbeaten Sandhurst in the second semi.
The red, white and blue worked incredibly hard, but could not stop Sandhurst recording a 44-38 victory.
Castlemaine’s on a hot-streak.
Jointly coached by Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke, Castlemaine won the elimination final against South Bendigo by 17 goals.
The Magpies then stunned Kangaroo Flat to score a 42-41 victory in last Sunday’s first semi-final.
Now the black and white army will be aiming to cheer their team to more glory.
This season’s meetings between Gisborne and Castlemaine stand at two-nil in favour of the Bulldogs.
In round two, Gisborne won 43-35 on Castlemaine’s court at Camp Reserve.
Defences were well on top as Gisborne won 29-28 at Gardiner Reserve in the 11th round.
A powerful Gisborne line-up includes Victory Fury representative Claudia Mawson, and also Zoe Davies who starred for Collingwood at the Netball Australia nationals and will soon be bound for England to play for Leeds Rhinos.
Other players to watch in the Gisborne team are Kirby Elliott and Tiana Newman.
Castlemaine will need big games from the likes of Jane O’Donohue, Emma Winfield, Charlotte McMurray and Caitlin Richardson.
The Magpies’ squad includes Meg Ginnivan who earned the best-on-ground medal as Castlemaine beat Woorinen in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy grand final at the QEO.
Gisborne.
Coach: Tarryn Rymer
Kirby Elliott (captain), Claudia Mawson (captain), Kiralee Collings, Rylee Connell, Zoe Davies, Charlee Kemp, Emerson Lakey, Tiana Newman, Torie Skrijel.
Castlemaine.
Co-coaches: Fiona Fowler, Gary Cooke.
Jane O’Donohue (captain), Kyla Byrne, Madeline Carter, Tara Ford, Fiona Fowler, Meg Ginnivan, Charlotte McMurray, Caitlin Richardson, Montaya Sardi, Mikaela Vaughan, Megan Wilson, Emma Winfield.
In the A-reserve competition it will Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat vying for a grand final berth from 2pm.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne is on the rebound from a 44-33 loss to Sandhurst in the second semi.
Kangaroo Flat started its finals series with a 23-goal loss to Sandhurst in the qualifying final.
The Nicole Donnellon-coached Kangaroos fought back for a 38-37 victory in the first semi againt South Bendigo.
Gisborne took the points against the Roos in both of their matches in the home-and-away series.
The Bulldogs won 51-38 at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park in the fourth round, and 43-30 at Gardiner Reserve in the 13th round.
Gisborne.
Coach: Tarryn Rymer.
Tazma Morris (captain), Bridget Salter (vice-captain), Jemma Denman, Emily McDonald, Bianca McKay, Eloise Rodda, Olivia Rodda, Alexandra Russ.
Kangaroo Flat.
Coach: Nicole Donnellon.
Emma Moroney (captain), Ashlee O’Shea (vice-captain), Lani Burns, Bronte Deary, Molly Drum, Chloe Fletcher, Darcie Fry, Lara Judd, Rose Kennett, Bella Pearse, Isabella Pitto, Amaya Schmidt.
In B-grade it will be Sandhurst against Kangaroo Flat from 12.40pm.
B-grade at 12.40pm – Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.
Both were beaten by Gisborne across the opening two weeks of the finals series.
Kangaroo Flat went down, 41-55 in the qualifying final showdown with Gisborne.
Last Saturday it was Sandhurst which could not stop Gisborne’s charge to a 48-46 victory in the second semi.
Kangaroo Flat stayed in the premiership race as it scored a 49-47 win against Strathfieldsaye in the first semi.
In this season’s meetings, Sandhurst beat Kangaroo Flat by 23 goals at the QEO in round one.
The Dragons later won 49-39 on the Roos’ court at Dower Park in the 10th round.
Sandhurst.
Coach: Jarileey Schultz.
Briona Giddings (captain), Erica Dalrymple-Monro (vice-captain), Aimee Dean, Tahlia Isaac, Maggie Keating, Tarryn Knights, Eliza Oxley, Lucy Sherriff, Lily Trimby, Elli Williams.
Kangaroo Flat.
Coach: Laura Brooks.
Darcie Fry (captain), Nicola McIvor (captain), Bella Pearse (captain), Laura Brooks, Lani Burns, Molly Drum, Karly Elvey, Lucy Lang, Macey O’Shea, Alex Rusbridge, Claudia Shelton, Rachel Winfield.
A big day for Kangaroo Flat includes the B-reserve team in action against Gisborne from 11.20am.
These teams met in the qualifying final which went the Roos’ way, 55-41.
A closely-fought second semi-final ended in a 45-43 win for Sandhurst against Kangaroo Flat.
Gisborne won the first semi against Strathfieldsaye Storm by five goals.
The Roos beat the Bulldogs by 17 goals in round four, and by 13 in the 13th round.
Kangaroo Flat.
Coach: Kate Newman
Shae Cairns (captain), Sophie Nicholson (captain), Lily Dickson, Madeline Dowling, Ashlye Faulkner, Lydia Lowndes, Gemma McPhee, Macey O’Shea, Gemma Roberts, Alex Rusbridge, Claudia Shelton, Hayley Smith.
Gisborne.
Coach: Leesa Lord.
Sophia Davies (captain), Brooke Bernacki, Emma Cogger, Ellie Lord, Alex Matthews, Bec Merrett, Lily Prater, Maddison Russ, Brianah Thompson, Caitlyn Walker.
Preliminary final day begins with the 17-and-under match between Gisborne and Golden Square from 10am.
These teams met in the qualifying final in which Gisborne outplayed the blue and gold for a 53-40 result.
Gisborne is on the rebound from a 46-43 loss to Sandhurst in the second semi.
A 48-41 victory in the first semi against Strathfieldsaye kept Golden Square’s premiership hopes alive.
This season’s meetings between the preliminary finalists stand at one-all.
Gisborne won 58-47 on Square’s court at Fur Life Vet Oval in the sixth round.
Next time it was Golden Square which claimed a 49-44 win on Gisborne’s court.
Gisborne.
Coach: Rylee Connell.
Bella Connors (captain), Charlie Busby, Jessie Connors, Charlotte Davies, Olivia Fenn, Emma Joyce, Sapphy McCarthy, Charlotte Taylor, Dasha Taylor.
Golden Square.
Coach: Lauren Swatton.
Charli Crawford, Charli Hamilton, Lilly Hope, Emma Keating, Keira Lawry, Kaylah Moon, Daisy Stringer, Holly Swatton, Abbi Wells.