By Tara Murray
Gisborne is the first team through to the Bendigo Netball League grand final.
The Bulldogs, who finished the regular season second, upset minor premier Sandhurst for the second time this season on Sunday.
This time, though, it earned them a spot in the final match of the year.
Bulldogs coach Kim Bailey said they were able to set up the 57-45 win in the first quarter.
Bailey said it was good to test themselves against Sandhurst with a full team for the first time this season.
“We were up at quarter-time and after that it was pretty even,” she said.
“They got back to seven goals in the last quarter, but we got on a run late in the quarter. We played OK and were a little down in a few areas that we need to improve.”
After losing the last quarter in their first finals win, Bailey was happy that they were able to finish this game off on a better note.
With the game in hand, Bailey said they worked on a few things late, including quick ball movement and scoring quickly off the centre pass that might benefit them in the grand final.
Bailey said goal attack Ella Bertachinni was best on court after doing a lot of work up the court. She said Tiana Newman was the other standout.
“She ran and ran,” Bailey said.
The win means the Bulldogs are through to their first A-grade grand final since 2013.
While Bailey is in her first year at the club, she said several of the players had suffered some heartbreak in the past few years after falling just short of the grand final and they were thrilled to return.
The Bulldogs will face either Sandhurst or Kangaroo Flat in the grand final.
Bailey said whoever they faced, they would have to lift their game to another level to take home the premiership.
The Bulldogs’ A-reserve team was knocked out, losing to Kyneton by one goal in a semi-final, but the under-17 team won through to the preliminary final.
