It wasn’t Riddell’s best performance or cleanest game – but none of that mattered as the Bombers went back-to-back in A-grade Riddell District Netball League premierships.
The Bombers, playing in their third straight grand final, were looking to make it two wins in two years over Macedon.
For much of the first half, nothing separated the two teams. When the Cats looked like they were the better team, the Bombers were doing enough to keep the lead.
That lead got out to as many as eight goals in the third quarter, but the Bombers let the Cats back into the game.
The Cats on seven or eight occasions got the margin back to three goals in the last quarter. But they couldn’t get any closer.
The end result was a 46-42 win to the Bombers.
Bombers coach Jarrad Walker admitted he wasn’t happy with how the game played out – yet was delighted with the result.
“We were better for 35 minutes and Macedon for the other 25 minutes of the game,” he said. “We were lucky enough to score enough goals in that 35 minutes when we were in control.
“Our ball placement was terrible – we were passing into hands, passing short and not using speed or preliminary moves to get to the ball. We did enough to get across the line.”
Walker said he knew that if his players kept playing the way they had in the first half, the Cats would keep coming.
“We kept them in the game,” he said. “They did make same uncharacteristic errors as well and we capitalised.
“There was a lot of colourful language on the bench … we were in control of the match and then let them have another free run.”
Bec Colwell was the best of the shooters, shooting 27 goals at 75 per cent.
Christine Harris started slowly before being benched in the second quarter, and then bounced back in the second half. She scored 18 goals for the game.
“It’s really hard for goalers to perform in finals – just so much pressure,” Walker said.
“Christine brings her best netball to finals. She found the movement we were after … that’s what Ellen [Close] showed when she was out there. Christine applied that with her shooting skills.”
Carly Harrison was named best on court, with Danielle Wilson and Lauren Close providing strong support in defence.
Walker paid tribute to midcourter Cayley Armstrong, who was the only player not to get on the court.
“It’s her first season back from an ACL injury and she was fantastic throughout the season,” he said.
“She was unlucky that our centre and wing attack were our consistent players today. There wasn’t the option to make the move. Just sitting on the bench and being constantly supportive, is selfless.”
Walker said he was unsure whether he would return for a second year as coach.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m making a move for work. I would be happy to leave Riddell in the hands here of the likes of the Closes, Christine Harris … it has a strong back bone.”
He said that even if he departed, the Bombers’ trajectory was already well mapped out.
“The whole idea of being out at Riddell was to build the pathways between the A’s and under-19s,” he said.
“Kira [Baldwin], Brianna [De Haas] and Meikah [Johns] are all testament to that, along with the other girls who played senior games this year.
“We’re building a strong pathway at Riddell and hopefully it keeps going.”
Rupertswood won the B-grade, C-grade and under-19 premierships, defeating Riddell in the first two and Macedon in the third.
