General News
7 September, 2024
How Redbacks went straight into another netball grand final
WEDDERBURN is through to the grand final in both A Grade and B Grade of North Central netball after wins in the second semi-finals. The Redbacks comprehensively defeated Boort in A Grade, 65-40, while B Grade beat Birchip Watchem, 58-35. Boort C...
WEDDERBURN is through to the grand final in both A Grade and B Grade of North Central netball after wins in the second semi-finals.
The Redbacks comprehensively defeated Boort in A Grade, 65-40, while B Grade beat Birchip Watchem, 58-35.
Boort C Grade’s one-goal win over Nullawil sees them in the grand final, while the A Grade Magpies live to fight again in the preliminary final against Charlton.
The Redbacks A Grade side bolted from the gates against Boort, with the ball living in Wedderburn’s half of the court as shooters Paige Stephenson and Holly Lockhart were well on top of their opponents.
Boort steadied after trailing by 10 goals at quarter-time with the fresh legs of Britney Sykes making a difference, and the Magpies went to the half-time break 13 goals behind, but with some momentum.
Wedderburn quickly put the contest to bed with 10 consecutive goals after the break and cruised to a 25-goal win. Umpires judged Stephenson and Boort’s Carly Isaac as best players.
A dominant second quarter saw the Redbacks B Grade team comfortably dispose of Birchip Watchem, with Olivia Lockhart best on court.
In C Grade Boort prevailed 30-29 over Nullawil. The Magpies led all day, but the Maroons kept nipping at their heels to the end.
The fast hands of Boort’s Brooke Arnold kept Nullawil defenders Amy Smith and Elizabeth Theoharethes on their toes with both teams fighting for possession.
Boort will have to beat Charlton on the Navy Blues’ home court this Saturday if they are to reach the North Central A Grade grand final and have a second crack at Wedderburn.
The two clashes between the teams this season have produced almost mirror-image results. Boort won 42-26 in round two, but Charlton turned the tables 41-27 in the return match.
Both team’s wins were on their home court.
The Magpies lost 65-40 against Wedderburn in the second semi-final last Saturday in a surprisingly one-sided match.
Wedderburn coach Emma Lockhart said of her team’s big win against Boort: “Everyone came to play their best netball on the day”.
The Redbacks will train on Saturday, boosted by having both A and B Grade teams in the grand final. “We’ll make it as game-day-like as possible with a practice match,” Lockhart said.
“It will be hard work throughout the week. We have to make sure that we are at 100 per cent.”