TYRENDARRA has booked its ticket into the South West District Football Netball League (SWDFNL) A grade grand final with a narrow victory against the Giants at Dartmoor, 46-43, on Saturday.

Tyrendarra settled into the game early with its shooters, Eliza Alexander and Hannah Van Gemst, finding strong connection in the goal circle, as the Darras made the most of their defensive pressure and were able to capitalise early to build a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Dartmoor made a change in its shooting circle at the break with Danielle Van Kalken moving back into shooter and Zoe Van Kalken-Flack out to goal at tack, as the Giants proved just how quickly they can hit the scoreboard in the second term.

With its midcourt pressure creating turnovers and Danielle Van Kalken dominating under the post, the side producing a 10-goal onslaught to close the margin.

The third quarter went goal for goal early with the Darras defenders, Kate Merrett, Amy Meulendyks and Eliza Fitzpatrick, quickly shifting their pressure to slow the momentum. and some timely intercepts allowed Tyrendarra to edge ahead at the last break, 36-34.

The Giants settled early in the final term and forced Tyrendarra into errors to regain possession with the pressure putting them back into the lead halfway through the final term.

The Darras refused to lie down and lifted their defensive efforts down court to find some ball off Dartmoor’s centre pass and level the scores.

At the hands of the defenders, Tyrendarra won back another ball to move into the lead and in the late minutes of the game the Darras put their foot down, pushing out to a five-goal lead and holding on to win the match by three goals.

Following the win, the minor premiers are the first team into the season decider at Heywood and for Tyrendarra coach, Rani Kane, the game was a perfect lead into the final.

“The game was what finals is all about, high pressure and ebbs and flows, so I was happy to come away with the win,” Kane said.

“Dartmoor came out in the second quarter and gained some early ball, and they are really good at carrying the momentum through and we didn’t respond quickly enough, as Danielle (Van Kalken) and Zoe (Van Kalken-Flack) really came into the game in the second quarter and connected well.

“I feel like we had lapses of concentration, we would run in transition really well but would then fall back into some old patterns so for us it’s about staying focused all game.

“We started off strong and sticking to our game plan and it was nice to see what we can do when we do that.

“We’re excited to move through to the grand final but we know we’ve still got a lot to build on and plenty of work to do in the next two weeks to put out our best game in that final match.”

Cavendish d. Westerns

CAVENDISH cruised into the preliminary final with a stunning display against Westerns at Cavendish on Sunday, running out 52-32 winners.

The SWDFNL semi-final between Westerns and Cavendish was expected to be a tight tussle, but the Cavendish team had other ideas and took control of the game from the first centre pass.

The Bloods came out firing, scoring the first three goals before Westerns made an impact on the scoreboard.

Bloods goal keeper, Regan Walker, gave her opponent, Jemma Nelson, no room to move in the circle and began to build pressure down Westerns’ attacking end, as Cavendish made the most of its opportunities in the first term, taking an early lead 10-6 at the first break.

A quick change for Westerns at the first break saw Danielle Marley enter the game at wing attack, and she provided more movement and direction for her team down their attacking end, but unfortunately it didn’t slow the Cavendish defence with Trish Hurley at goal defence leading her defensive line with numerous turn overs and intercepts.

Cavendish began to build on its lead with Hayley Boxall and Sophie Delahoy dominating the midcourt attack, with direct passing and quick ball movement down the court, as the Bloods extended their lead at half time, 22-16.

Kate Gleeson stepped onto the court in the second half at wing defence for Westerns to try and slow the Bloods attack, but the Cavendish girls found another gear and lifted their game all over the court.

Playing-coach, Marni Luhrs, dominated the attacking end for the Bloods, combining quick hands and accurate shooting from all around the circle.

She became too much for her Westerns opponents and sunk 14 goals for the quarter.

Cavendish wing defence, Alicia Peters, played her role well, limiting the opportunities for Westerns to feed into their shooters.      

At the last change of ends, Cavendish had extended the margin to 18 goals.

At the final break, Luhrs urged her side to not become complacent and Cavendish responded with Hurley once again instrumental in defence, showing her finals experience and lifting her teammates to another level.

  Carly Behncke played an important role in goal shooter, providing a strong target and voice down the Bloods attacking end, and only missing her first and only goal in the final moments of the game.

  Luhrs continued to put her stamp on the game and was well supported by her midcourt players, Boxall and Delahoy.