Dalyston netballers share 17s premiership glory after scoring howler

IN A sensational postscript to the 2022 West Gippsland football netball season, the 17 and Under Dalyston netball team has been awarded a joint premiership victory with their opponents in a thrilling grand final, Phillip Island.

Officially, the 17 and Under grand final, played in atrocious conditions at Garfield on Saturday, September 10, finished in a 33-31 win to Phillip Island and it was only revealed, when the league video was released some weeks later, that a goal in the first quarter was credited to the Island girls rather than Dalyston.

“The match can’t be played again. It’s the only fair thing they can do,” said Dalyston FNC President Andy Thomas.

“Our girls went through the season undefeated and played their guts out in the grand final. So did Phillip Island,” he said.

“Actually, they made a mistake playing 10-minute quarters instead of 12-minute quarters too but you couldn’t do anything about that.

“But when we saw the video and counted the goals, you can't ignore that.”

He said the video clearly shows the number of goals scored by each team in the first quarter - 9 goals apiece.

It was Dalyston which took it up with the league after the discovery.

“They’ve been very apologetic and supportive,” he said of league officials.

The Phillip Island Football Netball Club has also warmly supported the decision and passed on their congratulations to the Dalyston girls and the club.

Mr Thomas said a Dalyston supporter had noted the apparent discrepancy on game day and brought it to the attention of scorers, but it was dismissed.

“We’ll try to get the girls together and give them due recognition but it’s not the same," Mr Thomas said.

The West Gippsland Football Netball Competition, which also had to deal with a player points controversy involving Warragul Industrials during the football finals, has acknowledged the mistake with the Under 17 Netball Grand Final.

“Upon review of the Grand Final via match footage, it has been noted that the scoresheet scorer incorrectly allocated a goal to Phillip Island instead of Dalyston during the first quarter. This error saw the quarter time score as 8-10 in Phillip Island’s favour, rather than the correct score of 9-9.

“At the conclusion of the match Phillip Island were awarded the premiership with the scoresheet reflecting a score of 33-31, upon review, the official match scoresheet was incorrect, and the score should reflect 32-32.

“In consultation with the WGFNC Advisory Committee, the WGFNC have elected to award a dual premiership to both the Phillip Island FNC and the Dalyston FNC for the 2022 17 and Under netball Grand Final.

“This decision has been made under WGFNC Netball By-Law 18.

“The WGFNC will work in consultation with member clubs and Netball Victoria to ensure this does not occur again.”

Special Circumstances or Provision Clause

1. a) Where this By-law is silent, a decision can be made that ensures the integrity of the WGFNC is always maintained. The League may in using its reasonable discretion, in exceptional or extenuating circumstances, alter, vary, or waive the requirements set out in this By-Law relating to the WGFNC.