Sport
Deniliquin Rovers crowned Picola District Netball League A-grade premiers after bulldozing Katandra in big dance
Deniliquin Rovers snapped a five-year A-grade premiership drought in blinding fashion at Strathmerton Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
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The Picola District Netball League flag fancy lived up to its billing against underdog Katandra, producing a liquid hour of netball to snare a 39-25 result and bring the trophy back across the border.
An emotional Carissa Bulmer tried to sum up the feeling in the wash up, the Rovers’ A-grade coach jubilant at completing the season undefeated.
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Switch it up: Deniliquin Rovers’ Gabrielle Barlow. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 8
Coach’s orders: Deniliquin Rovers' Carissa Bulmer. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 8
Bastion: Deniliquin Rovers’ Natalie Sampson. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 8
Ready to pounce: Katandra’s Elly Keating. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 8
Steady the ship: Deniliquin Rovers’ Carissa Bulmer. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 8
Looking for help: Katandra’s Bec Osmond. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 8
Pure joy: Carissa Bulmer celebrates Deniliquin Rovers’ win at the final hooter. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 8
MVP: Deniliquin Rovers’ best on court Gabrielle Barlow. Photo by Megan Fisher“I’m just over the moon ... this year is five years since the Rovers has had the premiership cup,” she said.
“I’m proud of all the girls, we’ve worked hard all year. I’m just stoked for all the girls.”
Katandra was hamstrung through the loss of star goaler Kendal Judd in the qualifying final and it was a notable omission from start to finish.
The size mismatch of Deniliquin defenders Chrissy Hurst and Natalie Sampson ― who had flown in from Bali the night before to make the game ― over Katandra goalers Elly Keating and Bree Dudgeon showed as the Rovers locked things down at the back.
Conversely, Deniliquin shooter Abbey Wills was as cool as you like as Kats defenders Bec Osmond and Chelsea Batey struggled to get a foothold in the game with Rovers surging to an early lead.
Deni’s ‘‘fearsome foursome’’ ― consisting of Wills, Bulmer, Chloe Brown and Gabby Barlow ― blitzed the Kats’ defence to spear to a 13-5 quarter-time advantage.
Katandra sent Abbey Monk from wing attack into centre in the second term, and the switch of angles worked well as the Kats scored more freely.
However, the nervous expressions on Katandra’s bench painted the picture as each Deniliquin goal stripped away a layer of pre-game elation.
This one was slipping.
The synergy between Wills and Bulmer was telepathic and, try as Osmond might, the deficit ballooned out to 11 goals by half-time.
The Rovers were superior in every third, but the stir of the crowd meant Katandra was always alive despite a double-digit disadvantage to break down.
Hurst and Sampson never showed a chink in Deniliquin’s defensive armour and Barlow was a more than worthy midcourt opposite for Monk as the Kats were slowly but surely ushered out the door.
It’s not as if Katandra played poorly ― Deniliquin was just better.
The Rovers’ defenders attempted to shut the vault in the final quarter, but through pure guts and determination Keating and Dudgeon were able to scrap a few goals back to keep the game interesting.
As Bulmer noted, the end result may not have accurately depicted the on-court ambience with Katandra valiant in defeat.
“Katandra was fantastic today, they really pushed us and the scoreline didn’t reflect on anything really,” she said.
“It honestly felt like it was goal for goal out there. But we obviously kept that momentum going, we knew we had to keep pushing every quarter and not let them come back in.
“But it’s a big credit to Katandra, they’re nice to play, they’re a great side and they really pushed us at times out there.”
Wills finished with 32 of Deniliquin’s 39 goals while Barlow was granted best-on-court merits.
For Katandra, Osmond played a fierce game, while Alana Owen was another to impress.
Sports Journalist