General News
20 September, 2024
Scholes the shooting star
MITIAMO won the Loddon Valley A Grade premiership the hard way – rebounding from a semi-final defeat to Pyramid Hill and a six-goal deficit early in the second quarter of the grand final to snare their first flag since 2019. Playing on their home...
MITIAMO won the Loddon Valley A Grade premiership the hard way – rebounding from a semi-final defeat to Pyramid Hill and a six-goal deficit early in the second quarter of the grand final to snare their first flag since 2019.
Playing on their home court in atrocious conditions with a gale blowing to one end, the Superoos fought back for a 48-42 victory led by star goalers Carly Scholes and Laura Hicks.
Goal shooter Scholes was named best on court for her 19 goals, her unerring accuracy a standout on a day when the relentless wind made scoring extremely difficult.
Mitiamo captain Laura Hicks scored 29 goals in another stellar performance as goal attack.
Pyramid Hill led by four goals at quarter time after Jessica Holdstock took control with 11 goals on the back of fine work from centre Imogen Broad and defenders Abbey Dingwall and Aleesha Flanagan.
The margin blew out to six before Amelia Ludeman got on top in the battle of the two star centres and Mitiamo cut the margin to just one at half time and have a real sniff of victory.
The third quarter proved decisive, with Hicks’ 12 goals propelling the Superoos to a 16-11 term and a four-goal lead at the final change.
A low-scoring last quarter saw Mitiamo edge ahead by a further two goals and claim the premiership after being runners-up in the past two seasons.
Winning coach Jen Wilson announced she will step down from the role after two years in charge.
RETIRING Mitiamo netball coach Jen Wilson bows out with two A Grade flags to her credit, 12 years apart.
The Superoos’ come-from-behind win over Pyramid Hill was the result of having a plan and sticking to it, she said.
Despite her team trailing by six goals early in the second quarter, Wilson said the players remained calm and determined.
“There wasn’t a lot of luck going our way in the first half, and maybe our luck started to turn.”
Pyramid Hill coach Chelsea Emmerson said the extreme conditions on Mitiamo’s home court played a part in her team losing their early lead.
“I think the wind picked up and they shot better than us,” she said.
All four senior grades made either grand or preliminary finals, which boded well for the club’s future, Emmerson said.
She was unsure whether she would coach again next year, but noted she had “unfinished business”.
GARY WALSH