Balranald bounds into A-grade netball grand final
THE Kangaroos from Balranald have hopped their way into the A-grade netball grand final in the Central Murray Football Netball League.
The Kangas surged clear in the second half of last Saturday’s preliminary final clash with Mallee Eagles in the MixxFM competition played on the court of the Cohuna Kangas.
Mallee led 12-9 at quarter-time, but Balranald hit back to gain a 29-27 lead by the main break.
The Kangaroos then won the crucial third term, 15-9.
In a high-scoring last quarter it was the Eagles which won 14-13, but Balranald led 57-50 at the final whistle.
After a 45-50 loss to Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final on day one of the finals series, Balranald fought back to score a 51-48 win against Lake Boga in the first semi and then clip the Eagles’ win in the return meeting.
It was a dramatic finish to the A-reserve preliminary final between Swan Hill and Balranald.
A 50-49 victory ensured the Swans would progress to the premiership decider against Mallee Eagles.
The preliminary finalist had met in the qualifying final which Swan Hill won 51-46.
In week two of the finals, Swan Hill went down 28-41 to Mallee Eagles in the second semi as Balranald scored a 64-51 victory in the first semi against Tooleybuc Manangatang.
The Swans flew to a 34-28 win against Lake Boga in the B-grade preliminary final.
Swan Hill had won the qualifying final clash with Woorinen by two goals, but a week later went down to Mallee Eagles in the second semi by 17 goals.
The Swans and Eagles will meet again in the grand final.
Cohuna Kangas were too strong for Koondrook Barham in the B-reserve preliminary final.
The Kangas marked a 43-33 win against the River Raiders.
Cohuna’s run to the grand final began with a 34-29 win against Nyah Nyah West United in the qualifying final, and then a 26-37 loss to Swan Hill in the second semi-final.
The Swans and Kangas will meet in the season decider.
A goal was the margin at the end of a superb 18-and-under preliminary final between Tyntynder and Cohuna.
The Bulldogs fought their way to a 38-37 win against the Kangas.
The preliminary finalists had met in the qualifying final which Tyntynder won 35-28.
A week later and the Bulldogs went down 29-43 in the second semi-final clash with Lake Boga.
Tooleybuc Manangatang progressed to the 16-and-under grand final after a 42-37 victory against Swan Hill.
It had been a superb run by the Swans who had won the elimination final and first semi by a goal each time.
The Saints from Tooleybuc Manangatang were determined to hit back from a 36-45 loss to Kerang in the second semi.
It will be the Blues against the Saints on grand final day.
Woorinen Tigers marked a 50-27 win against Lake Boga in the 14-and-under preliminary final.
The Tigers bounced back from a 28-34 loss to Tyntynder in the second semi-final.
It will be a showdown between Woorinen and Tyntynder for the premiership cup.
Sponsors of the various netball grades are MixxFM and Mildura Health Fund.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill:
14-and-court, court two at 10.30am: Tyntynder v Woorinen.
16-and-under, court one at 9am: Kerang v Tooleybuc Manangatang.
18-and-under, court one at 10.30am: Lake Boga v Tyntynder.
B-grade, court two at 12pm: Mallee Eagles v Swan Hill.
B-reserve, court two at 1.30pm: Swan Hill v Cohuna Kangas.
A-reserve, court one at 1.30pm: Mallee Eagles v Swan Hill.
A-grade at 3pm: Swan Hill v Balranald.
Written by Nathan Dole.