SANDHURST 10 24 34 44
GOLDEN SQUARE 12 24 33 41
Sandhurst won its third successive premiership in a nail biting finale against Golden Square on Sunday afternoon.
Golden Square looked the better of the two teams in the first half with Jody Richards and Erica Schippers’ goal shooting a highlight. Lia Marrone provided drive through the mid court and fed the ball into the circle with pin point passes.
Sandhurst’s Meghan Atkins played a near perfect wing attack’s game shrugging Golden Square’s defensive tactics on each centre pass, meeting the ball and thrusting it forward to her team’s advantage.
Sandhurst boldly made changes at half time replacing coach Jannaya Webb with Ingrid Henderson in goals. Roz McEniry was relentless in her defence of the goal circle and lax passing in Sandhurst’s ring was costly pushing the margin out to three goals. McEniry and Simone Andrews were a force to be reckoned with and easy passes into Sandhurst’s goal circle were at a premium. It took time for Sandhurst’s new goal shooting combination to adjust but they did and leveled the score on a flying Stacey Randall intercept around Golden Square’s goal ring. Sandhurst took the lead for the first time at the third quarter break.
The Hurst’s Maddi Foott was lively in the goal circle taking intercepts and rebounds on the few occasions Golden Square missed shots at goal and was rewarded by Henderson’s accuracy and a two goal lead.
Square continued their good form and wrest the lead back scoring two successive goals on a Sandhurst centre pass break and held ball.
Foott’s rebound on a rare Erica Schippers’ miss at goal once again leveled the match.
Defensive pressure was the key to both teams’ game plan and a Golden Square held ball in the attacking end of the centre third was quickly propelled into Sandhurst’s attack and a quick move by Claire Gibbs holding close post position resulted in a one goal lead.
With less than three minutes on the clock Sandhurst defender Ashleigh Cole intercepted and though the Maroons struggled to move the ball into attack, Briona Giddings was cool under pressure and passed to Gibbs for a goal. Henderson then goaled on a Sandhurst centre pass to put the game beyond doubt and Sandhurst took their premiership tally to a record seven.
Goals
Sandhurst
Claire Gibbs 9 8 4 3 = 24
Jannaya Webb 1 6 = 7
Ingrid Henderson 6 7 = 13
Golden Square
Jody Richards 6 5 2 4 = 17
Erica Schippers 6 7 7 4 = 24
Best on Court: Kath Basilewsky (Golden Square)
A RESERVE
KANGAROO FLAT 14 23 31 38
GOLDEN SQUARE 9 21 30 41
Golden Square snatched victory from Kangaroo Flat in the final five minutes of an exciting grand final.
Kangaroo Flat was impressive early on adjusting readily to the windy conditions keeping passes short and direct. Goal defence Kirstie Harvey played a close checking game on her opponent taking intercepts and rebounds while Nina Cass grabbed at every goal shooting opportunity to set up a five goal buffer at the first break. Golden Square made changes moving Tammy Williams into goal attack and was quickly rewarded with the deficit turned into a gain. Kangaroo Flat stepped up to the challenge to regain the lead at the long break.
Much of the third quarter was played goal for goal with neither team able to gain the ascendancy. The only low spot of the quarter was when 250 game player Tamika Stewart went down with a knee injury at the nine minute mark.
Gradey McNicol back in Square’s goals did not waste the chances presented to her and leveled the game at the 10 minute mark of the final quarter. On a Golden Square centre pass Kangaroo Flat had two forays into their attacking third yet neither paid off and again McNicol scored for a one goal lead. Flat’s Brooke Emmerson scored through easy passes to once again level but Square hit back with a quick goal. With little time left Square applied greater pressure forcing an easy turnover on a contact by the Flat’s Nikki Manning and McNicol scored successive goals to secure a three goal victory.
Best on Court: Kathryn Graham (Golden Square)
B GRADE
GOLDEN SQUARE 11 23 36 45
SANDHURST 11 18 33 39
Taking Golden Square by surprise in the opening quarter Sandhurst led by six goals before the blue and gold settled into their game plan to level the score at the first break. A more composed Square outfit limited Sandhurst’s scoring opportunities while Ashleigh Weeks and Charlene MacKenzie shared the work load in the goal circle. Weeks’ movement in the goal circle and her ability to detach easily from her opponent was a highlight.
Though outscored by Sandhurst in the third quarter Golden Square still led at the final break. Sandhurst had opportunities to wrest the score to their advantage but were unable to capitalize on forced turnovers. Kirsten Cunningham was dogged in the defensive circle holding her opponent to one goal in the final term and encouraging her teammates on to back to back premierships.
Best on Court: Ashleigh Weeks (Golden Square)
17 & UNDER
GOLDEN SQUARE 10 20 38 56
SANDHURST 8 20 25 35
An 18 goal to five third quarter blitz set Golden Square on their way to victory in the first of the club’s four grand final appearances.
Golden Square’s mid court duo, Joanna Keyte and Kate O’Brien, teamed superbly feeding the ball with confidence into the goal circle. Louise Dupuy dominated in the goal circle using her height to advantage receiving passes at the post and shooting with an accuracy that in the past has not been a staple of her game.
Golden Square applied pressure all over the court forcing Sandhurst into erratic passes. Sandhurst took chances in high winds to play the ball long into the attacking third which were cleanly intercepted by Square’s resolute defenders. Georgia Tatnall and Elli Cleary formed a tight defensive line restricting Sandhurst from gaining any flow to their system of play.
After losing only one game this season, ironically to Sandhurst in the second semi final, Golden Square blasted their way to a premiership piling on 36 goals in an inspiring second half while restricting their opponent to a mere 15 goals.
Best on Court: Georgia Tatnall (Golden Square)
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