A RESERVE – WEST GAMBIER V NORTH GAMBIER
West started well scoring the first four goals before North answered through GS, Alisha Bryan.
It was then West who dominated the scoreboard for the rest of the quarter to take a match-winning 10-goal quarter-time lead.
West’s defensive pressure was relentless right from the first whistle with WD, Chelsea Tremelling gaining important touches and Madelyn Milich driving the ball out of defence to set up scoring opportunities.
Tahlia Earl was the dominant goalie on court scoring 14/16 in the first.
North shot accurately but errors through the midcourt limited their opportunities.
The second quarter was again dominated by West’s midcourt in Carlee Ransom and Anna Bosco controlled the tempo of the game and patiently found Earl and GA, Gracie Peterson at the post.
North’s Jessie Little and Riley Mitchell battled hard, but the speed of the ball was coming in too quick and West won the quarter 18-8.
North made changes at the break bringing on Ava Collins to GK and West remained unchanged.
Collins matched Earl for height and challenged any high balls.
North’s Amanda O’Shaughnessy continued to work hard through the centre for North but West’s defence in Milich and Rachael Langford were too strong and denied any easy access to the post.
The final quarter was more evenly matched as the game went goal for goal and Bryan found her range.
At the other end, West’s Earl continued to be the dominant goaler on the court and her side pushed ahead to record a 28-goal victory and win the right to challenge the Saints in the Grand Final.
B GRADE – MILLICENT V WEST GAMBIER
In a match that was expected to be a close contest the first quarter lived up to that expectation as both sides went goal for goal.
It took the Saints to the dying minutes of the game to finally break away and record a 6-goal win against a determined West Gambier.
In wet conditions both sides were patient with their entry into the goal circle.
The Saints GS, Nicole Domaschenz was the focal point in the attack line, using her height and strength to gain an advantage.
She was well fed by GA Josie Lang and WA Kalli Brown.
At the other end West’s GA Caitlyn Carrail was the playmaker in attack as she not only did a lot of work out front setting the play and finished with 8 for the quarter.
With scores all tied up at the quarter time break the match was set to be tight.
The second quarter remained the same as the midcourt battles continued to be a highlight.
Krystal Coghlan was applying defensive pressure through the middle, causing errors in West’s attack with her tight checking style and Bianca Jackway was running hard to give her side an advantage.
Domaschenz played her best quarter scoring 8/10 and GK, Michelle Flemming rebounded any missed shots to help her side take a three-goal advantage at the main break.
Both sides main changes at half-time with West bringing on GA, Elysha Gillies and the Saints Jordyn Iovino entered the match at centre.
Iovino added speed and teamed well with Coghlan across the defensive centre where they caused errors and Coghlan picked up crucial intercepts to help her side take a match winning 8 goal lead at the last change.
The last quarter was a tight affair as West made a fight back through the defensive efforts of Brooke Holmes and Daena Wombwell.
Missed attempts at goal by the Saints were rebounded by Wombwell and transitioned though Jackway and with Gillies finishing well, West closed the gap to 4 goals with five minutes to play.
The Saints settled in the last few minutes and with Lang finishing the good work they were able to hold on and take the win by 6 goals.
The Saints now have the opportunity to see if they can match the talented Casterton Sandford to cause an upset in the B Grade Grand Final.
C GRADE – EAST GAMBIER V NORTH GAMBIER
It was always going to be a tough contest and despite East Gambier starting as favourites, a determined North Gambier was not going down without a fight and that it was for majority of the match.
East started strongly through the composure of Megan Wilson as she dominated the scoreboard early finishing with 10/11 for the quarter.
While she was a strong target it was the work out front from Zena Creek and Tamara Janeway that helped to set up the 4-goal quarter-time lead.
North’s Milly Allen continued her good form holding well in the goal circle as a strong target despite the pressure from East’s Brooklyn Jean.
Jean combined well with GD, Chloe Lines to restrict the North goalies to just 6 attempts for the quarter.
This was despite the work from North’s WA, Keeley Quinn who was providing plenty of options in attack.
North made three changes at the main break and the match went for goal for goal before East’s GS, Millie Button found her range shooting 9/11 and was well fed by Wilson who was creative in attack.
North added height in their defensive end with Kelsie Anderson entering at GK and combining well with Sarah Nieuwenhuizen but East were again able to extend their lead and have a 16-goal match winning lead at the final change.
North saved their best netball for the last as they outscored East by 5.
North’s Kahlia Egan re-entered the game at centre and steadied her team.
It was all too late though as East’s lead was too much for North to overcome and East Gambier secure a spot into the 2023 C Grade Grand Final.
