A Grade – Border Districts v Keith
It is grand final time in the Kowree Tatiara Netball Association which will be played at Gall Park, Kingston this Saturday.
In the minor rounds of the home and away season Keith, Border Districts and Lucindale have been fighting it out.
The Roos emerged on top, which left the Crows and Hawks to clip each other’s wings in the first round of finals.
In the previous clashes between the two grand finalists, they both have had one win each, but in the second semi-final Keith came away with the chocolates to go straight to the big parade.
This meant Border Districts had to score a good win over Kybybolite in the second round of finals before coming up against the Roos in the preliminary final where a “hum belter” of a game was had by both teams.
But after four quarters of solid netball, it was the Hawks who prevailed to knock out minor premier Lucindale to advance to the 2022 grand final up against Keith.
The momentum holds with the Crows, but the Hawks will be out to demolish this with teamwork and skill.
Border Districts will be looking to Lilly Pfitzner in goals to get the score rolling along with Emma Hausler and Della Hannaford who will lead from the front with support from Tyler Atkinson.
For Keith Erika Lamont, Danielle Vankalken and Whitney Smith are the keys to success.
It will be a test of the fittest and the team that settles quickly.
A Reserve – Keith v Penola
The Penola Netball Club will be hoping to bring home three premierships in the minor grades of the 2022 grand final.
The A Reserve Eagles will be up against Keith, a side that have won the last five flags and unfortunately the Eagles have lost two of them.
Penola Netball Club vice president Karly Honner said 2022 is a new year with different looking line ups taking to the court.
‘There have been some changes in both teams with ACL injuries happening,’’ Honner said.
‘’So Penola’s line up will be a little different with Kaitlin Egan now playing for the A Reserve team and I am not sure how the Keith team will line up.
‘’Keith has won all three games we have played this year but they have been very even and Penola has let it blow out in the last quarter.
‘’So hopefully we can turn the tables around on Saturday.”
B Grade – Naracoorte v Penola
Naracoorte and Penola have had close games throughout the year and finished one and two respectively on the ladder with only one game separating them at the end of the season.
It also has been a tough finals campaign for both not getting everything their own way.
Honnor said the Eagles had to dig deep to make it to the grand final.
‘’Two weeks ago, when they faced off Penola got away to a bad start not scoring until Naracoorte had found the goals,’’ she said.
‘’That was hard to come back from, but it is a very consistent team of skilful players who are going for back-to-back premierships.
‘’Penola’s Kim Wilson is a very good player and finished fourth in the league best and fairest and has the biggest job matched up on the league’s best and fairest.”
Naracoorte will be looking to Abby Walker and Sophie Gibbs while Penola’s Jessica Blackmore and Wilson will fire.
C Grade – Naracoorte v Penola
The Eagles have had a great year and finished second behind Naracoorte on the ladder and these two teams will go toe to toe again this Saturday in the grand final.
On paper they match up very well and it will provide a good game of netball to watch.
Head-to-head both sides have got one win each in the minor games, but the Demons had the measure of the Eagles in the second semi-final.
Penola has some skilful players in Alice Auld, Sarah Pitt and Jess McIntyre but will come up against some stiff opposition in Michelle Maynard, Melanie Pretlove and Fiona Aitken.
