THERE was heartbreak for the Leongatha C Grade netball team at Morwell in the grand final on Saturday, good enough to beat their opponents Maffra but running into a flat spot of scoring in the last quarter when it mattered most.
The Parrots had been in front for most of the day and got it out to a handy four goals in the last quarter but in a series of attacking runs mid-to-late in the last term, they simply couldn’t hit the shots, pushed into taking deep shots it must be said by Maffra keeper Stacey Scott and her partner in crime, and Maffra slowly and surely pegged them back.
Ultimately, they got ahead by one when it mattered most and won the day.
But you couldn’t fault the level of Leongatha support which was really heart-warming for the girls – but a heart-breaking result in the end.
Match report: Leongatha’s only netball team in grand finals was the C grade team and they started well in a tight goal-for-goal opening.
In goals for Leongatha were Lily Hume GS and Bronty White GA.
Both sides, Maffra and Leongatha, had missed a couple of shots each but coming up to quarter time it was 8-6 to Leongatha on the back of a great intercept just before the bell by Jude Reynolds. Bronty had a long range shot after the siren but it just lipped out, All Leongatha’s players had been involved in the play and it was flowing well into attack and under the defensive ring Elly Egan and a mobile Jude Reynolds were contesting well.
The second quarter started with Leongatha stringing a few goals together to get it out to a lead of four, but Serrin Stobie dobbed one from long range and followed up with another soon after, and it was game on at 11-10 halfway through the quarter.
Tegan Renden, in the centre, was being closely followed by Maffra’s Chloe Smith, an excellent Under 17s player, so it was competitive through the midcourt.
Just as Leongatha looked to be building a lead Maffra’s Stacey Scott in keeper got her hands in on a bounce pass and Maffra went on a four-goal run to square it up. Leongatha still led 15-14 at half time but Maffra wasn’t going anywhere.
In the third quarter it was goal for goal again but a turnover in Leongatha’s attacking end looked a chance to break the sequence but the long shot rimmed out. The Parrots won it back again and finally knocked it in to go out to 20-19. But Maffra’s Sheerin Stobie was making all her shots at the other end. A late goal by the Parrots gave them a three-goal break at the last change.
Elicia Garnham in WA was providing a lot of drive for the Parrots.
Kinesha Anderson also went into WD as the Parrots rung the changes. The goalers swapped a few times and but it was back to Bronty and Lily for the run home.
A couple of turnovers early and Leongatha was out to four, Jude Reynolds instrumental in defence again.
Maffra threw a pass out of bounds, but they got it back and the Maffra GS dobbed it to cut the lead again.
Leongatha was thwarted by Maffra’s keeper and it got down to goal for goal in the run to the line.
A long bomb by Maffra’s GA was crucial but Leongatha missed at the other end. An errant pass by Leongatha let Maffra in again and they levelled it up with only minutes to go. They got the next centre pass and from long range Maffra hit the front.
Leongatha responded through their GA but Maffra went ahead again and it was up to Leongatha to keep pegging them back but when Leongatha missed their shot the ball went back down the court and it was all over, Maffra by a solitary goal.
Stacey Scott was a tower of strength at GK for Maffra but Leongatha’s wing was awarded best on court for the Parrots for the exhaustive pace she kept up all day.
Final score: Maffra 28 def Leongatha 27.
