LEONGATHA’S C Grade girls have booked their place in the Gippsland League grand final with an all-the-way win over Bairnsdale at Sale in the blazing sun on Saturday.
It was the perfect celebration for club stalwart, Tegan Renden, who was able to celebrate her 200th senior game in style.
The Parrots got it out to a 10-7 lead at the first break with Bairnsdale making a good contest of it front and back at this stage.
But Leongatha were just a little more self-assured right across the court with Kinesha Anderson making good position mid court and Bronty White up and down the court carrying the ball as well as getting down court to combine with Lily Hume in goals.
Bairnsdale closed the gap with a run of goals at the start of the second quarter, their burst of scoring stopped after three by Elly Egan using her height to advantage in defence.
Elicia Garnham was working well with the goalies to improve their positioning and Lily Hume was making all the shots she needed to from close range.
When Bronty White also chimed in on the scoring, the Parrots got it out to a five-goal lead half way through the second quarter.
Kinesha Anderson had been moved across to Wing Defence and her defensive athleticism kicked in to the Parrots’ advantage, highlighted by a fine come-from-behind intercept to see Leongatha out to eight. Even at this stage, late in the second quarter they looked like getting Leongatha’s first win of the day.
Half time scores: Leongatha 21 to Bairnsdale 12.
In the third quarter Leongatha played solid netball to edge further away from Bairnsdale with Molly Heber coming into GK, working with the experienced Jude Reynolds GD to set up a formidable barrier.
Lily Hume was going aggressively at the ball after the rebound as required and with Audrey McGannon coming into Goal Attack, the Parrots had plenty of fire power.
Tegan Renden playing her 200th senior game was in everything through the mid court anticipating the play well and partway through the last quarter they were out to a very comfortable lead of 20.
Wings Kinesha and Elicia were teaming well with Tegan through the centre as they played the transition game to perfection while also getting their hands in the way to make it tough for Bairnsdale. It was all Leongatha as the final siren sounded.
The final score Leongatha 43 to 21.
After the game Tegan Renden ran through her 200-game banner with daughters Harlow and Sadie but no one could catch young Nash Renden who was doing laps of the court. It was the ice-breaker Leongatha fans wanted to see on a big day for the club.
