Tara Murray
Riddell fell just short on the big stage in the Riddell District Netball League, losing the grand final in overtime.
After losing just one game during the regular season, the Bombers had their battles in the finals series.
They lost their first final to Woodend-Hesket and then managed to get through to the grand final with a win in overtime against Macedon in the preliminary final.
On Sunday, they faced the Hawks for the second time in the final series, this time with a premiership on the line.
It was low scoring early on with the defensives of both sides on top. Turnovers were made and shots missed.
Both teams made a number of changes throughout, especially in the midcourt and shooting circle for the Bombers.
The Hawks got to a four goal lead in the last quarter but the Bombers weren’t done.
Both teams had chances in the dying minutes to win the game, but weren’t able to convert.
Scores were locked at 33-apiece at the end of four quarters, sending the game into overtime.
From there it was all the Hawks, leading by five goals after the first period of overtime. They kept the momentum going to seal the win, 46-37.
Bombers coach Beck Anstey said while she was disappointed, she was proud of the group and what they had achieved.
It’s the first season this group has played together.
“They played with just so much heart,” she said. “They’ve all been playing so well.
“That’s the nature of finals… We didn’t get it to gel at exactly the right time unfortunately and we didn’t come away with the chocolates this time.
“The girls will brush themselves off and I think they will be stronger for it.”
Anstey said she was proud how the group fought back into the game for a second straight week. She said they had their opportunities late in the game to win it.
The ball was in their attacking third when the siren went at the end of regular time.
“We had lived experience, we trained from it,” she said. “Those first couple of minutes in overtime I think are so crucial they really set up the tempo.
“Woodend had us covered in those crucial minutes.”
Anstey said they would love to keep the group together, with so much young talent in the side like Ruby Shannon, Madison Brown, Tepea Hobson and the Burge sisters, Xara and Eliza.
It was a mixed day for the Bombers, with their B-grade side winning the premiership, but their under-19s losing to Western Rams.
She said they would have loved to have got at least two premierships if not all three.
