PENSHURST has ended Hawkesdale-Macarthur’s 2022 Mininera and District Netball Association A grade campaign with a come from behind victory in the first semi-final at Macarthur Recreation Reserve on Sunday, 40-39.
The Bombers held sway for the first half of the match, as they took a single goal margin into the long break.
It was the Eagles who returned to the court for the second half determined to keep their season alive, grabbing a three-goal lead by the last change of ends.
Penshurst settled in the final stanza to regroup and take advantage of the turnover ball, ensuring the ball entered its attacking end often and converted the opportunities.
The Bombers drew level with the Eagles, and it was late in the game when they took the lead and maintained it through to the final siren to advance to the preliminary final.
Penshurst coach, Sinaed Hassell, was full of praise for her team and its performance, especially with the support the Eagles enjoyed from a home crowd adding to the pressure on court.
“It was a very exciting win on Sunday which was stressful to watch from the sidelines, but an incredible effort by the girls to overcome so much pressure and come out on top,” Hassell said.
“ Rachael Mibus really stepped up for us in goals, owning her space and demanding the ball.
“She combined beautifully with Jedah Huf and settled us really well.
“Leah Mirtschin and Brooke Lenehan played great netball to give us momentum which created opportunities for us all game.
“Hawkesdale are a very tough team across the board, and I think their strength is how well they work together and rally around each other.
“Credit to my girls though, I though they all stepped up and did their roles well to overcome that strength.”
Penshurst now advances to the preliminary final against Ararat, which defeated the Bombers in the first week of finals, and Hasell learnt her team cannot afford a slow start against the Eagles this time around.
“We had a slow start last time we played Ararat and then just really struggled to get ourselves back into the game,” Hassell said.
“We need to bring the energy from the get-go and carry that energy right to the end to give ourselves the best chance of coming out on top.”
TATYOON powered to an impressive victory against Ararat at Willaura Recreation Reserve on Saturday to grab another week’s rest after booking its place in the grand final, 54-36.
After a first quarter where the two teams traded goals in a defence-orientated game, the Hawks came out in the second term to post 18 goals to only eight in reply to open an 11-goal margin at the long break.
From there the margin continued to grow, as Tatyoon cruised to victory to secure a place in the grand final in two weeks.
B Grade
TATYOON made it two teams into the grand finals with its B grade side accounting for Ararat on Saturday with a strong eight-goal victory, 28-20.
Woorndoo-Mortlake ended the campaign of Penshurst at Macarthur on Sunday by winning the first semi-final, 34-29.
C Grade
PENSHURST booked its place in the C grade grand final with a solid performance against Tatyoon, as the Bombers claimed a 24-19 victory at Willaura on Saturday.
GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD claimed another big scalp, as the fifth-placed Rams overcame third-placed Ararat, 29-27, at Macarthur on Sunday.
17-and-Under
WOORNDOO-MORTLAKE had already claimed the minor premiership and the Tigers are now one win away from claiming the premiership after booking their spot in the grand final with an eight-goal defeat of Penshurst at Willaura on Saturday, 37-29.
MOYSTON-WILLAURA ensured its season would continue for at least another week with a two-goal victory against Caramut at Macarthur on Sunday, 29-27.
15-and-Under
PENSHURST will enjoy another week’s rest after defeating Hawkesdale-Macarthur at Willaura on Saturday, 27-24, to book a place in the grand final in two weeks’ time.
LISMORE-DERRINALLUM ensured that Wickliffe-Lake Bolac exited the finals in straight sets after accounting for the Magpies at Macarthur on Sunday, 27-8.
13-and-Under
LISMORE-DERRINALLUM started the run of all minor premiers, winning through to the grand finals of the junior age group competitions, as the Demons posted a two-goal victory against Penshurst at Willaura on Saturday, 20-18.
GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD continued its great finals form with a 12-goal defeat of Caramut at Macarthur on Sunday, 22-10, setting up a preliminary final against Penshurst.
