Gisborne left it until the last 10 seconds of the game to seal its victory over Sandhurst in the Bendigo Netball League semi final.
Having trailed all day, the Bulldogs hit the front for the first time with just 10 seconds remaining, sealing the 36-35 victory, and a spot in the preliminary finals.
Bulldogs’ coach Simone Trevillian couldn’t believe her eyes, watching from the sidelines.
“The last 10 seconds, we hit the lead,” she said. “We managed to get a turnover and get two goals in a row.
“They missed a shot, and we were able to get the rebound and convert it down the other end.
“I’m not sure which is worse, sitting and watching on the bench or being the one who had to shoot the goals.”
After a poor first quarter the Bulldogs found themselves behind by eight goals at quarter-time.
“I tried to keep the girls positive,” Trevillian said.
“The focus was to stick to our game plan, and remind them they are still in the game.
“We knew we had the fitness to run all day; we had to keep up the pressure.”
Her quarter-time speech worked, with the Bulldogs only trailing by three goals at half-time.
Unable to make inroads in the third quarter, they trailed by four goals at the final break.
“I told them just to keep trying and staying positive, and keep focussed on the game plan.
“I knew they could do it. It was pretty nerve-wracking watching.
“The message was to keep fighting.”
Trevillian said it was amazing for the girls to stand up under that pressure.
“Polly Salter and Mel Harris played really well in defence. Polly played a blinder.
“Maddy Stewart and Rylee Connell were brilliant under the ring, holding their nerve and shooting those shots.”
Trevillian said the move to bring on Ellie Newman and Sammi Cooke in the second half also played a big part in the win.
“They had fresh legs and provided drive through the mid court, and that played a part in being able to run over the game.”
It’s the second one-goal win for the Bulldogs in the finals series, after their defeat of Kangaroo Flat, 38-37, in the elimination final.
That win wasn’t without controversy.
The Kangaroos protested the score, claiming the tally sheet was wrong. But the protest was thrown out.
“I said to the girls ‘stick with what the score sheet says’, which says we won,” Trevillian said.
“We didn’t let it affect us, and we stayed out of it.”
The Bulldogs now play Strathfieldsaye on Saturday for a spot in the grand final.
“Anything can happen in finals,” Trevillian said.
“Hopefully, we play with the same intensity and game plan as our first two finals.
“I feel if we play the way we have in the last month, we are a chance.”
