It was a battle between the favourites and the team that came from nowhere, and it was the favourites on top at the end of the Riddell District Netball League’s B-grade grand final.
Rupertswood entered the premiership match after losing only one game all year, and had the week off leading into Sunday’s grand final.
Lancefield had to do it the hard way, having inched up through the finals from sixth spot.
Two one-goal wins and an eight-goal victory over the more fancied Broadford in the preliminary final gave the Tigers a surprise grand final berth.
Lancefield only gained finals contention in the last round of the season.
Its dream of making it to the top didn’t come off on Sunday, as the Sharks showed why they are such a dominant force.
With an early lead, the Sharks ran away to their second successive B-grade premiership, 34-14.
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For Sharks’ coach Di McCormack the premiership is reward for all the hard work players put in over the year.
The Sharks have lost only two games in the past two seasons.
“What you can say about them is that they are outstanding,” McCormack said. “They work hard at training and worked on a lot of things behind the scenes to get here today. The average age of the team is just 16,” she said.
McCormack was all praise for the opposition, coached by her close friend Alan Watson.
“They have worked tremendously hard, and it shows the work Al has been doing at the club to get them from sixth and into a grand final.
“We had a lot more fitness and a lot stronger structures,” McCormack said. “Our defence put them under the pump.”
Georgia Leonard was named best on court by the umpires. Emily Ktona and Hayley Matthews, who shot 16 goals, were also among the best.
For the Tigers, Jessica Lallo shot 12 goals and was named their best players.
McCormack said several players, including Ktona and Matthews, could easily make the move up into A-grade.
“Em and Hayley … deserve to be up there, and Mon Neagle has taken her game to a whole other level this season.”
