FOOTBALL or netball, easily the most thrilling contest on a windy day at the Maffra Recreation Reserve on Saturday was the B Grade netball match between Leongatha and Moe, ultimately won in extra time by the Parrots.
The teams were locked at 43 all after regular time when Moe survived a mad scramble in their scoring zone, with seconds to play, before hitting the equalizer, making it 43-all after an impressive fightback by the Lions.
And they continued on with it in the first period of extra time, getting it out to a four-goal lead before Leongatha pulled one back, making it 50-47 at the changeover, but still firmly ‘advantage Moe’.
However, led by Laura Curtis as Goal Keeper, the Parrots’ defence absolutely swarmed the Moe attacking players and forwards in the second period of extra time, incredibly putting on eight goals to three in seven minutes of frenetic play.
Previously, Leongatha decisively won the first half with quarters of 12+13=25 against 17 by Moe but the Lions’ girls came on strong in the second half winning it by 13+13=26 to Leongatha’s 18.
Going into the last quarter, Leongatha was still leading 36-30 but Moe got the first three scores to trim that back to 3 goals the difference 36-33.
Moe immediately forced another turnover and raced down the court for a goal, now only 2 the difference. Leongatha’s GA Emma Ton and GS Ava Brown both missed rebound chances and Moe swung the ball to the other end to cut the lead further.
Moe’s next centre pass and goal made it level at 36 all with Moe’s WA Brittany Milne involved in some decisive play on the edge of ring. Leongatha pulled one back to be up by one but Moe levelled again following a turnover and they had the centre pass only to see it turned over by Leongatha.
Leongatha centre Stacey Gilliam working hard and Lilly Scott, swapped into WA, was busy but Moe was still up by one then two.
Goal shooting wasn’t easy with a stiff south-westerly wind blowing across the ring at both ends, but with the footy ground end ring was more exposed.
Moe forced a turnover at one end, but Laura Curtis timed her defensive lunge to perfection at the other end and got the ball back.
Moe did so well covering the passing outlets for Leongatha at their end that they forced a delayed pass and raced it forward to get the lead out to 3.
But Leongatha wasn’t done with and strung two key goals together in quick succession through Emma Ton, Kasie Rump winning the intercept and with slick passes to Kate Sperling, now in goals, and on to Emma Ton, they had the equaliser.
The teams went goal for goal to the line, Leongatha able to get the go-ahead score on a number of occasions only to see Moe scramble back to even each time, bringing up the 43-43 scoreline after a hectic scramble in their goal ring where Leongatha’s defenders might have taken possession, and the win, on a number of occasions.
After a short break, the teams changed ends with Leongatha coming to the more exposed end of the court.
Moe had the first centre pass for a goal and Leongatha responded. Moe went to 45 but Leongatha missed the reply, and Moe went on a run, up by two to 46 then 3 with a long bomb.
Leongatha missed their next chance, and Moe raced it forward to go up by 4. Leongatha was at the windy end but got the next goal and when Kasie Rump produced a turnover, they cut the lead to 2 goals as Emma popped it in.
The Moe goalers were hitting their shots and got it back to 3 up 50-47.
A great pass in by Lilly Scott but no goal, Moe missed one as well but at the other end, Emma was robbed of her shot by whistle. Moe by three at break, 50-47.
The teams changed ends again and with seven minutes to go, Moe looked the team to beat.
Leongatha was swarming the defensive end and when Laura grabbed a turnover, the Parrots’ girls went coast-to-coast before Emma shot it up and in to cut the deficit to two. But a nice pass in by Moe and the Lions’ deadeye GS Elise Demczuk did the rest. They weren’t going away.
Players were all over the court at Leongatha’s end, but they managed to find Emma for the goal. Next centre to Leongatha and it was back to one goal the difference.
Moe missed the shot, and Leongatha crashed and bashed it down the court again with some thrilling play. Gemma steps in and goal. Scores level and Leongatha with the centre pass gets the next goal to go ahead 53-52.
It’s working at both ends for the Parrots as Laura again gets the rebound and down the court they go, Kate to Emma and in. Stacey Gilliam in WA working overtime. Emma up and in again and incredibly, Leongatha is up by 3 with only seconds to play.
Moe pulls one back, but the siren sounds soon after for an amazing win by Leongatha after a breath-taking game of finals netball, Leongatha defeating Moe 55-53.
