Balranald beats Swans to be A-grade netball champions
BALRANALD capped a brilliant second half fightback to beat Swan Hill in the Central Murray Football Netball League’s A-grade netball grand final on Saturday.
The Kangaroos and Swans clashed at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill.
Beaten just once in the home-and-away series and victorious in the second semi, the Swans were favourite to take this season’s premiership cup.
A tough run for Balranald had included a five-goal loss to Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final, but then being able to bounce back for a 51-48 win against Lake Boga in the first semi, and 57-50 victory against Mallee Eagles in the preliminary final.
In the grand final it was Swan Hill which led 9-8 at quarter-time and then upped its atacking play to win the second term, 12-7.
Balranald’s never-give-up approach was to the fore in the third quarter as the Roos dominated play to score 11 goals and held the Swans to just.
The Roos led 26-24 going into the final quarter.
Both teams scored nine goals apiece as Balranald held on for a 35-33 victory.
Best on court honours went to Swan Hill’s Casey Frame.
It was a thrilling finish to the A-reserve match between Mallee Eagles and Swan Hill.
The Eagles led 8-7 at quarter-time and then surged clear in the second as they added nine goals and held the Swans to a tally of four.
Swan Hill worked incredibly hard in all thirds of the quarter and was rewarded as it won the third term, 6-1, to be within a goal of Mallee going into the last.
There were many timely intercepts by both teams, but it was Swan Hill which was able to win the quarter, 5-3, to claim a dramatic 22-21 victory.
Greta Sheldrick from Swan Hill earned best on court honours.
It was a showdown between Mallee Eagles and Swan Hill in B-grade.
The Eagles soared to a 12-4 lead by quarter-time and did not let up as they won the second, 11-6, to hold a 13-goal buffer by the main break.
Swan Hill hit back to win the third term, 6-4, but could not stop Mallee’s run in the last as the Eagles added 13 goals to complete a 40-22 victory.
Best on court honours went to Deanne Wiseman from Mallee Eagles.
A big day for Swan Hill included the club’s B-reserve team in action against Cohuna.
The Swans led 10-7 at quarter-time and then won the second term, 10-7.
It was in the third, dubbed by many as the premiership quarter, where Swan Hill took control.
The Swans added 12 goals to lead 32-19 at three-quarter time.
The Kangas from Cohuna worked hard to win the final term, 6-4, but it was the Swans who celebrated a 36-25 result and a premiership win.
Rachel Moloney from Swan Hill earned the best on court award.
Another thriller was played out in the 18-and-under competition between Lake Boga and Tyntynder.
After being down 9-13 at quarter-time, Lake Boga fought back to win the second term, 13-8, and led 22-21 by the long break.
The Magpies then won a high-scoring third quarter, 14-10.
Tyntynder lifted to win the last, 11-8, but the Bulldogs could not stop Lake Boga’s run to a 44-42 victory.
Milla Holt from Lake Boga was adjudged best on court.
Kerang faced Tooleybuc Manangatang in the 16-and-under grand final.
The Blues led 9-7 at quarter-time and 19-18 at the main break.
It was 11 goals to eight in favour of Kerang in the third quarter to lead by four at three quarter-time.
Tooleybuc Manangatang worked hard but it was the Blues who rolled to a 41-35 victory.
Hallie Murphy from Kerang was best on court.
In the 14-and-under competition, Tyntynder faced Woorinen.
Down 9-11 at quarter-time, the Woorinen Tigers clawed their way to a 19-18 lead at the main break.
Woorinen won the third, 11-7, and added 10 goals to five in the last for a 40-30 result.
Best on court was Willow Conlan from the Woorinen Tigers.
Written by Nathan Dole.