DARTMOOR has claimed its first ever South West District Netball League A grade premiership after a six-goal win against Tyrendarra in the grand final on Saturday, 39-33, at Hanlon Park, Portland.

The Giants rose to the occasion when it counted, with their ability to stay composed through the midcourt and work the ball into attack a key to Saturday’s win.

It is the first A grade premiership for the club who has been in a building phase across the past 10-years which culminated in a grand final berth last year and 2023 premiership honours.

“This is amazing, I’m so proud. I’m so proud of the girls and just so happy we could do it for the club,” coach Leesa Logan said.

“It’s so nice to bring it together at the right time and the feeling is overwhelming.”

Both sides took some time to work into the match with Tyrendarra finding some solid passages early in the game off turnovers, but the Giants set the tone early and never let the lead blow out.

After an even first quarter, Dartmoor stepped it up in the second term with their ability to win ball and capitalise in the goal circle pushing them out to a three-goal lead at half time.

Once in front, the Giants never relinquished their lead with the ability of centre player Rebecca Vankalken to steady the midcourt seeing them build out the margin heading into the final term.

“Our second quarter was where it shifted, the girls really bought the pressure,” Logan said.

“It took us a bit to settle into the first quarter, I think we were a bit nervy and had some lapses and came off quarter time one down and second quarter they knew what they had to do.

“They settled in and focussed on the role they had to play.”

Tyrendarra managed to get some hand on ball to start the last quarter to pull the lead back with Andrea Smith, Ella Smith and Matilda Hutchison creating turnovers, but the Giants kept their pressure on to keep the game on their terms.

Dartmoor defenders Charlotte Rice and Keely Price in the circle with Katherine Jarrad out front capitalised on errors from Tyrendarra in attack and held steady despite a slimming margin.

It was once again the composure of Vankalken through the middle and the execution of shooters Mikayla Rice and Marlee Gartlan to help push the lead out and finish six goals in front.

For premiership captain and best on court for the game, Vankalken said it had been a big build up for the club which had seen plenty of growth.

“When I first came to Dartmoor Holly (Smith) coached us and we barely won a game, but it just grew from there and we’ve been able to recruit and had some girls come to Dartmoor and then it’s grown and grown,” she said.

“We have a lot of support from the club to recruit people and it’s just gone from one extreme to the other. “We were in the same boat as them (Tyrendarra) last year and know how it feels – we were just the better team on the day and we’re just so happy to get it done.”