LAHARUM has won its first ever A Grade netball grand final in the match of the day.
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It was as close as it gets in the Horsham District game on Saturday, with scores level at the final siren.
In a fast, action-packed game, Laharum took on reigning premier Natimuk United.
Both teams have had an outstanding season, so the stage was set for a big game.
After an even start to the game, Natimuk pulled away in the third quarter and a string of early goals saw them take the lead.
The Ewes capitalised on any intercepts that came their way.
They led by eight goals at one stage in the third quarter, but the Mountain Maids soon started to claw their way back.
At the last change, Natimuk led by only one goal.
Both teams came out firing in the final quarter, eager to get in front.
Natimuk was determined and started the quarter strongly, extending its lead.
With only minutes left in the game, the Ewes led by one goal.
As the seconds ticked down the crowd grew louder and the teams went goal for goal, keeping the margin at one goal.
A crucial turnover for Laharum and a medical time-out for Natimuk just added to the intensity.
Laharum scored a goal on the final siren to level the scores, leading to time on.
The teams again went goal-for-goal in time on, both sides hungry for the win.
The Mountain Maids soon found momentum and pushed out to a one-goal lead.
Natimuk was about to score just as the final siren rang out, meaning Laharum won by a single shot.
Coach Erin Mellington said words couldn't even describe how it felt to win.
"It's the best feeling ever - we've been chasing this for a long time," she said.
"It was a great game, we gave the crowd what they wanted and went into overtime.
"The pressure was on -- it couldn't have been a better final if we tried."
The side lost the grand final to Natimuk last year.
Mellington said her side had been working hard in the off season to go one better this year.
"We've worked hard on keeping it cool and staying strong in times of adversary," she said.
"We came back two times in the game and we just did not give up.
"To come out with a win was amazing."
Mellington said this was the first ever A Grade premiership for Laharum.
"It's a piece of history for everyone at the club and everyone else wanted this just as badly as us."
Laharum captain Rebecca McIntyre said Natimuk had been a powerhouse in the competition for a long time.
"They were the measuring stick to show us what we needed to do to get that cup," she said.
"Losing a few grand finals is a good way to learn to look at yourself and talk about what you need to do to improve.
"We've looked at what we needed to fix and we worked really hard to get over the line.
"You have to do something you've never done to get something you've never had."
McIntyre dedicated the win the Michelle Mibus - a Laharum netball legend, who died after a battle with cancer in 2016.
Natimuk United coach Cheryl Sudholz described the loss as "heartbreaking".
"We were seconds away from having the win and then it went into overtime," she said.
"Things can chance in an instant in netball.
"But we kept fighting in time on - we had nothing more to give."
Sudholz commended player Alysha Liston who moved into centre in the dying minutes of the game after an injury.
"She's probably only played a quarter in centre before, and she had already run her guts out in goal attack," she said.
"It was hard for all of us to keep digging deep at times."
Sudholz said both sides refused to give up and kept going to the very end.
"We always knew it was going to be a hard tussle and it was a fight to the death for both teams," she said.
"The lead chopped and changed so much but we never gave up.
"Unfortunately for us Laharum was able to get over the line."
Sudholz said her side would now look towards next year.
"This loss has just made us hungrier for next year's win," she said.
"At the end of the day, I know my girls and I know what they are capable of.
"They have never let me down and whatever position I put them in, they go with it.
"It was a 10-girl effort on Saturday and we had a great support-base at Natimuk too."
Sudholz said it would have been easier to lose by 10 goals than one.
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