The Ovens and King Football Netball League season came to its home-and-away season finale on Saturday, and it was Benalla All Blacks that starred at Friendlies Oval, recording victories in senior football and A-grade netball over Goorambat.
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Despite losses to the Bats, both of its football and netball sides will feature in the finals series in the weeks to come.
Goorambat put up a strong resistance early in the football, before the Panthers ran away with it after the half-time break to record a 16.7 (103) to 5.8 (38) win.
Ten goals was all that separated the two side’s in the netball, the Panthers securing a 46-36 triumph.
Saturday was an important fixture for a number of reasons.
Both side’s honoured league great Terry Greaves, with all money raised from the day going to the Albury-Wodonga Cancer Centre as part of the Terry Socks it to Cancer Initiative.
Panthers’ senior skipper Riley Moran, who clinched the best-on-ground medal, said the two sides were locked in an arm wrestle for much of the game.
“It was a good contest for the best part of three quarters,” Moran said.
“We sort of got over them towards the end of the game, but they certainly showed why they’ll play finals this year, they’re definitely no easy-beat.
“It was good to get the win and hopefully we can take that momentum into finals.”
The Panthers clinched the minor premiership, several weeks ago in fact, and finished 18 points clear of second-placed Bright.
The All Blacks finals’ campaign will start with a qualifying final clash with the Mountain Men on Saturday, August 28, while Goorambat take on Bonnie Doon in an elimination decider this Saturday in Tarrawingee.
All Blacks president Doug Aiton said Saturday’s game was a fitting way to end the regular season.
“It was a really fantastic day, a big day for us for sure with the fundraiser,” Aiton said.
“The weather was fine and a big crowd got along; both games were good hit-outs.”
Having not clinched a flag since 1981, Aiton said a lot of excitement had been building around the senior group this year, who finished their season on a run of 13 consecutive victories.
“Everybody’s really stood up and represented the club fantastically this year, we’re proud with what everybody’s doing around the club,” Aiton said.
“Spanner’s done a fantastic job at getting a great list of footballers together this year and hopefully they hang around for a few years.
“They’re all Benalla boys, too, it’s a pretty outstanding achievement to have that many players to fill three senior sides.”
On the netball courts, All Blacks midcourter Elizabeth Fuhrmeister took out the best-on-court medal.
The Panthers slid into third with the win, and have teed up a qualifying clash with sixth-placed Tarrawingee this weekend.
Goorambat will take on Whorouly the following day, after the Bats finished their season in fourth.