By Tara Murray
Macedon is through to the Riddell District Netball League grand final, but it took a mighty fight to get there.
The Cats were pushed all the way by Romsey in wet conditions on Saturday, with extra time needed to split the two teams in the semi-final.
The Cats were in front when the extra time siren went, winning 44-43.
Cats playing coach Ciara Stewart said it wasn’t a great performance from their perspective.
“It was our worst performance all year,” she said. “We struggled in the wet, especially in the attack end where we like fast ball movement.
“We struggled to use the ball … we weren’t taking a lot of risks and just didn’t adjust.”
While the end margin was just one goal, Stewart said they felt like they were in control all game.
“It got out to a six-goal lead twice,” she said.
“We never felt like we weren’t in control, even though the scoreline didn’t show it.
“We felt like we were the better team, but weren’t finishing things off. It was who was going to fight harder and both teams fought hard.”
Chloe Wilson shot 37 goals from 46 attempts for the Cats, while Tayissa Coppinger was named their best.
Chelsea Ross, who shot 22 goals, was named Romsey’s best players.
The win moves the Cats through to the grand final, while the Redbacks will face Rockbank in a preliminary final.
Stewart said the week off would do the side good, with a few players carrying injuries.
She said they would work on things they had taken out of their semi-final victory during training in the next two weeks.
The Cats have two teams through to grand finals, with their B-grade side also winning through.
The B-grade also needed extra time to get there.
The Cats defeated Diggers Rest 36-31.
Stewart said that win had helped boost the confidence levels of the A-grade
team.
For more on the Rupertswood and Rockbank match, go to starweekly.com.au/sports/
