Macedon’s charge towards an unbeaten netball season was ended at the hands of Rupertswood on Saturday, with the Sharks running over the top of the Cats in the final quarter.
With both sides bound for Riddell District Netball League A grade finals, it was a tight contest throughout but the home side found the extra edge when they needed it most to come away with a memorable 39-36 victory.
Rupertswood coach Di McCormack said it was one of the best wins she had ever been a part of.
“It’s one we’ve been working hard towards, this is the third time we’ve played them this year and each time we’ve got a bit closer,” McCormack said.
“That final whistle, it was like we’d just won a grand final. The girls were elated, we took it up to them in every grade and from the start of the day with the under 19s we showed them that Rupo were there to play.”
Right from the start it was a fierce contest, with neither side able to break away by more than three goals all game.
Macedon led by three at quarter-time, and maintained that to half-time, with Rupertswood drawing to within two goals at the final change.
Hayley Mathews left the game after the first quarter due to illness, with Lucy Batina coming up from the B grade side, and McCormack ran a double team on gun Macedon playmaker Ciara Stewart to help give her side the edge.
“We decided to take the game to them,” McCormack said.
“We played them two weeks ago and lost by two, so we knew we had it in us, and today we just kept fighting, stuck to the game plan and it worked.
“Going in to the last quarter we felt we had the momentum, the whole squad from the bench out felt it and we ran with it.”
With finals on the horizon, McCormack said her side feared no one now.
“I think this is the most settled team we’ve had for a while,” she said.
“To win that game I think shows that we’re a side who can be playing in a grand final.”
In B grade, Rupertswood shot out of the blocks and never looked back as it claimed a comfortable nine-goal win.
Rupo led 14-5 at quarter-time to set up the game, and while Macedon came back slightly it never realistically threatened to overhaul the margin as it finished at 42-33.
Batina was a star with 26 goals from 29 shots, before playing a key role in the A-grade win.
