Girgarre’s Jacqui Gahan attempts to block Shepparton East’s Lauren James.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Shepparton East is locked and loaded for a shot at the flag.
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On Saturday, the Eagles swept past Kyabram District League reigning premier Girgarre in a hotly-anticipated semi-final bout at Longwood Recreation Reserve, playing high-stakes, high-octane netball on neutral territory.
And when push came to shove, Shepparton East did what it has done all season.
The unbeaten Eagles added another scalp to their ruthless tally, prevailing 49-32 to stamp their ticket to the grand final, while forcing the Kangaroos to take the long route to the big dance.
Shepparton East co-coach Kate Durling said slick conditions early on favoured the Eagles, but it came down to depth when Girgarre launched a spirited second-half comeback.
Shepparton East’s Kali Frost swivels with the ball in her grasp.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Girgarre’s Sheridan Deledio dishes off a chest pass.
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Megan Fisher
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Shepparton East’s Maddison Newey stays composed under the post.
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Megan Fisher
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Shepparton East’s Marni Thorne looks to feed her attacking partner.
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Megan Fisher
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Girgarre’s Grace Jackson-Kightly spots a Roo in space.
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Megan Fisher
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Shepparton East’s Marni Thorne barks orders across the court.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Girgarre’s Allana Adams waits patiently for the play to reach her area.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“The conditions were a bit testing; it was wet in the first half which gave us the advantage, but as the court dried out, the second half was a lot different to the first,” she said.
“Their speed came out when the court dried up. For our advantage, we’ve got some really good depth where I think they’ve been hindered with a few injuries.
“It was a tough match; the scoreline doesn’t really depict how tough it was.”
With the two sides’ previous meeting only decided by three goals, Saturday’s semi-final was billed as a potential game of the season.
However, this time around, Shepparton East kicked the switch up to 11.
The Eagles slowly took the game by its collar and built the lead out to six goals at quarter-time as the rain beat down on Longwood’s courts.
A second-quarter surge speared Shepparton East 16 goals to the good by the half and, though a Roos’ riposte in the third term drew the margin back slightly, Durling’s charges were able to dig in and see out a comfortable victory – on the score sheet, at least.
Durling was impressed by the defensive fortitude of Lauren James, Leticia Keady and Sarah Maskell, labelling the trio “brilliant” while also lauding the shooting combo of Kali Frost and Maddison Newey.
So now, with 17 unbeaten games behind them, how do the Eagles feel two weeks out from a grand final?
“(Being) undefeated gives us confidence, but finals brings a different manner and you’ve got to step up in front of a crowd,” Durling said.
“I think it’s survival of the fittest come that last game in the season.
“We’ve been able to put 10 on the court from our first round to our last which helps, but we’re definitely not getting ahead of ourselves – it’s week by week.
“Come finals, it’s who’s going to be better on the day, regardless of what has happened on the day.”
Durling said the club focus would be to keep things “as normal as possible” in the build up to the big dance, with the Eagles to study their grand final opponent once confirmed.
Meeting Shepparton East in the grand final will be the winner of Girgarre versus Rushworth, after the Tigers prevailed in Sunday’s second semi-final against Tallygaroopna.
Rushworth led the contest from start to finish, eking out an 8-5 quarter-time lead before going up by eight goals, then 15, and eventually laying claim to a 36-22 victory at Stanhope.
The Tigers will play Girgarre at Central Park Recreation Reserve in Saturday’s preliminary final bout.
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