NORADJUHA-QUANTONG’S remarkable run in the Horsham District Football Netball League A Grade finals continued with a thrilling victory over Kalkee in one of the best games in recent league history.
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Both teams produced stifling defensive pressure during Sunday’s cut-throat first semi-final at Cameron Oval, Laharum, and scores were locked at 29 goals apiece after four quarters.
The tie meant the teams played seven minutes of extra time at each end, but even that was not enough to separate them.
The teams went goal-for-goal and scores were still level after the extra time.
The teams then played a second period of extra time, where the first team to get two goals ahead would be declared the winner.
Players were absolutely exhausted after playing all day in hot conditions, but pushed themselves again for the second extra time.
With everything on the line, it was Noradjuha-Quantong that came out ahead, winning 42-40.
Bombers goalies Olivia McDonald and Sammi Avery were composed against Kalkee’s vaunted defensive pairing of Stevie Bibby and Paula Wiedermann.
When one was off, the other picked up the scoring slack and kept the goals flowing at a reasonable rate for Noradjuha-Quantong.
McDonald scored the winning goal.
"It was just finals netball at its best.''
- League netball representative Linda Kelly
Mikayla McAuliffe and Hayley Thomas battled Noradjuha-Quantong defenders Brooke Pay and Yolly Francis at the other end of the court.
For much of the day it seemed the Kees would win. They led by three goals at half-time before a fight-back from the Bombers.
Noradjuha-Quantong coach Carmel Officer said her team was on a high after the victory.
“It was sensational. The heart-rate is very high at the moment,” she said after the game.
“Our defence end didn’t miss a beat all day – they intercepted and rebounded really well.”
Kalkee coach Rachel Thomson said her team was devastated by the result but she had nothing but pride for its effort.
“It was really hard to lose that game, but we have no regrets,” she said.
“It was a great defensive game, but our girls couldn’t quite get there in the end.
"It was one of the best games I’ve ever been involved in and it’s a great representation of how good the league has been this season.”
Noradjuha-Quantong will play Natimuk United in Saturday’s preliminary final at Rupanyup after the Ewes lost to reigning premier Harrow-Balmoral 44-29.
Despite the comfortable final margin, and a week off en route to the grand final, Harrow-Balmoral coach Ebonie Salter said her team needed to improve.
“We went away from the game plan that has been working for us at times in the game, and Natimuk United really upped the ante in terms of defensive pressure from the last time we played them,” she said.
League netball representative Linda Kelly said the Sunday game was probably one of the best finals she had ever seen.
“A lot of people made similar comments – it was just finals netball at its best,” she said.