Nathalia’s Tegan Sutton and Rumbalara’s Jessie Barnes-Hill fight for possession.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
If not for a clerical error denying it a perfect season last year, Rumbalara would have made it 39 wins in a row at the weekend in the Murray Netball League A-grade competition.
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The reigning premier will have to make do with the fact it will feature on the final day of the season for a second straight year, having beaten Nathalia 41-35 in the second semi-final at Echuca South Recreation Reserve on Saturday to punch its grand final ticket, putting itself in the box seat to record back-to-back A-grade flags for the first time in club history.
Having played each other in round 18, a game in which Rumbalara claimed a 47-35 victory over the Purples to seal its unbeaten home and away record, it was Nathalia that got the jump in the second semi-final, racing out to an early lead and entering the quarter-time break with an 11-6 advantage.
Rumbalara’s Tiarna Steel elevates to defend a shot from Nathalia’s Aimee Sidebottom.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Nathalia’s Olivia Tilyard scans the court.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Nathalia’s Laura Cole takes possession.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Rumbalara’s Emily Williams looks for a teammate.
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JORDAN TOWNROW
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Rumbalara’s Sarah Thorpe advances the ball towards goal.
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JORDAN TOWNROW
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Nathalia’s Tegan Sutton dishes off a pass.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Rumbalara’s Tiarna Steel attempts to stop Nathalia’s Helen Williams’ shot.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Rumbalara’s Tiarna Steel reaches skyward.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Despite chipping away at the lead, the highly-fancied Rumbalara was unable to retake the lead in the second term, still trailing 17-20 at half-time as a determined Nathalia held on to a three-goal advantage.
But the belief the Rumba players hold never wavered, as little by little they erased the deficit, finding their rhythm and range in the third term and drawing level to enter the final change all square.
In a supreme defensive display, against the best defensive side of the season no less, Rumbalara limited Nathalia to five goals in the final term, while adding 11 of its own at the other end, blowing the Purples out of the water to storm home and book a second straight grand final appearance.
Nathalia still has a chance to win through to the grand final in this weekend’s preliminary final, where it will take on Tongala after the Blues beat Mulwala in the first semi-final at Numurkah on Sunday.
Tongala pinched a two-goal lead at the first break, which it extended to five by half-time, holding a 23-18 advantage at the main break.
But Mulwala, which finished third ahead of the fifth-placed Blues, raced back into contention with a blistering third term, restricting Tongala to six goals for the quarter while adding 11 of its own to tie things up at 29 apiece with a quarter to play.
It was the Blues that proved strongest in the final term, shrugging off the momentum shift against them in the third to close out a brilliant 41-37 win, setting up a big showdown against the Purples at Nathalia on Saturday for the right to face Rumbalara in the decider.
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