Finally, a premiership cup for Dalyston’s Under 17 netballers

THE West Gippsland Football Netball Competition has had an additional 2022 premiership cup made and on Wednesday night, December 14, WGFNC Advisory Committee Member Colin Rielly, presented it to the joint premiers in the 17 and Under Netball competition, Dalyston.

The club brought together the co-premiers, their families and other club members and supporters for a dinner at the club at which the event was celebrated.

Club President Andy Thomas said it was always their intention, after the issue with the scoring was identified and the league acknowledged joint premiers in the Under 17s, Phillip Island and Dalyston, that the club would come together and officially honour their joint premiers.

“It’s more that it’s a unique thing, probably in the history of netball,” said Mr Thomas.

“And we’re not taking anything away from the Phillip Island girls either. They played a great game on the day and through the season, there was never more than a goal between the teams and that’s how it turned out in the final as well.

“Just a matter of a centre pass between them and in the end, they couldn’t be separated and that’s how it turned out. So, it’s recognition for both teams and both clubs really,” he said.

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 West Gippsland Football Netball Competition acknowledged the scoring mistake with the Under 17 Netball Grand Final back in October.

Here’s what they said:

“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.”

So, it’s likely to remain a unique event, with extra time the traditional method of sorting out deadlocks in finals and grand finals.