The heart rate was up for Gisborne as it snuck home to seal a Ballarat Netball League preliminary spot in extra time.
In the second match of the day to go to extra time, the Bulldogs and Castlemaine were locked at 41-apiece at the end of regular time. The Bulldogs got a jump early extra time to take back control of the game.
They would hold on to win, 51-48.
Bulldogs coach Tarryn Rymer said it was one of those games that could have gone either way.
“They would be up by two goals and then we would be up by three goals and they would then be up by two goals again,” she said.
“I was not surprised it was a tie in the end.”
Rymer said some of the girls had played in extra time before in the 2018 grand final, a game which they lost.
She said they had learned from that game and the focus was on doing the simple stuff well to get the win.
“They were a little bit nervous,” she said. “Castlemaine had gained some momentum in the last quarter.
“We got to have a break and reset and refocus. It was about converting our centre passes and when we got the first turnover we needed to convert that.
Rymer said their two shooters stepped up in extra time. She said Fiona Fowler was causing plenty of havoc in defence.
“Our shooters were a bit hesitant,” she said. “In extra time they just went for it.”
With their full squad available, the Bulldogs were able to ring the changes. One was bringing Kiralee Collings into wing attack.
“Kiralee is nice and fast,” Rymer said. “They had to worry about her as well and let Jordan [Cransberg] do a bit of damage out the front.”
The Bulldogs will face Kangaroo Flat in the preliminary round. The Kangaroos lost to Sandhurst in the other semi final, 65-26.
Rymer said she was shocked by the extent of that margin.
“It was very surprising they lost by that much,” she said. “Their players will be fired up.
“Our girls will go into the game with confidence after our win.”
The Bulldogs have four sides playing in preliminary finals this weekend.
The A-reserve team will face Kangaroo Flat after beating South Bendigo, 47-41.
The B-reserve will also Kangaroo Flat in the preliminary final. The B-grade side will make the most of its second chance after losing in extra time.
The under-17 side is already through to the grand final having beaten Sandhurst, 51-44.
