The Bombers took the Mountain Maids by surprise with a big first half and did not relent after the main break to win 45-28.

The result came as a surprise to most in the Horsham District Football Netball League, with Laharum having won five of its previous six games leading into finals.

Even Noradjuha-Quantong coach Carmel Officer said she was surprised when she looked at the scoreboard at the end of the game.

“I suppose that sort of margin in a finals game is a bit more than what you would expect,” she said.

“It certainly didn’t feel like we were winning by that much.”

Officer said the team asserted itself in the first half with every player sticking to their assigned role.

She said scoring the first goal after Laharum had the opening centre pass of the game was a psychological boost.

“The girls were all given a duty to do and they rose to the occasion,” she said.

“After we were five goals up in the opening few minutes I think Laharum got a bit frustrated and panic started to set in.”

The Bombers blanketed Laharum goalies Maddie Iredell and Caitlin Story, who has been one of the league’s top goal-scorers this year.

At the other end, Sammi Avery withstood pressure from the Mountain Maid defenders to score 26 goals, only two fewer than Laharum’s team total.

Noradjuha-Quantong defenders Yolly Francis and Brooke Pay rebounded well after every Laharum miss, not allowing their opponents second chances.

The Bombers will now face Kalkee, which lost a tight battle with Natimuk United at Balmoral on Saturday.

With the exception of the second quarter that the Ewes won by five goals, there was very little in it all day.

Both teams were outstanding defensively, applying pressure all the way down the court.

Natimuk United coach Cheryl Sudholz said goalies Kirby Knight and Emily Hateley did an excellent job against Kalkee defensive duo Paula Wiedermann and Stevie Bibby, two of the league’s best players.

“I think it came down to not panicking – we knew we had to keep possession and if there was a turnover we had to fight hard to get it back.

“It’s not easy to shoot over Paula or Stevie, but we did well to move the ball around the goal ring.

“Ash Knight and I made sure not to rush the passes to the goalies and put them under pressure.

“If we don’t think they are the right passes, we won’t throw until we see a good lead.”

Jo Taylor and Zoe Hanson started in defence for the Ewes before Sophie Hutchinson came on for Hanson at half-time.

“We’ve got a really good defensive system and we’re lucky to have Jo as our staple in defence and then also Zoe and Sophie,” Sudholz said.

“It gives us versatility to know we can make those changes and not waste five minutes adjusting to each other’s style.”

Kalkee coach Rachel Thomson said it was hard to fault her team’s performance.

Outside of a small lapse in the second quarter that gave Natimuk United its match-winning lead, she said the team played extremely well.

“If you drop your head for a second in finals the other team will capitalise, which is what happened to us in the second quarter,” she said.

“We’re happy we have another chance against Noradjuha-Quantong this week.

“I went to the game on Sunday and watched and they just really wanted it – Carmel Officer has them playing a good style of netball and we drew the last time we played, so we will have to be on our game.”