C-reserve premiers: Deniliquin Rovers.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Deniliquin Rovers dominated the adult divisions of the Picola District Netball League grand finals and kicking off the party was none other than the club’s C-reserve outfit.
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The Rovers willed their way to a 33-15 win over Katunga, putting the squeeze on the Swans in a tight-fisted final which proved frugal on the scoring front.
The early game was played in Katunga’s defensive third, with the Swans creating turnovers only to have the ball flung right back at them.
Turn and face: Katunga’s Jemma Grandell.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Clap it up: Deniliquin Rovers’ Ellie Fishlock.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Scrambling for space: Deniliquin Rovers’ Ellie Fishlock and Katunga’s Ash Lee.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Taking a breath: Katunga’s Leah McGrath.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Brick wall: Deniliquin Rovers’ Nikita Doyle.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Bounce pass: Deniliquin Rovers’ Alicia Collisson.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Unfortunately for them, Deniliquin’s goalers came to play.
Kaila Park and Lauren Butcher were served hail Maries from outside the circle only to answer the fans’ prayers by dropping them in from all angles and ranges for a five-goal lead at quarter-time.
Dynamic Katunga centre Nikita Doyle was dictating play and turning on the supply, but the height of Rovers’ defenders Alicia Collisson and Kelly Thorpe made it hard to penetrate for the Swans.
And in the second term Rovers started to storm away.
Despite a swathe of red shirts rewarding each Swans goal with appropriate applause, it hardly mattered as Deniliquin was soon up 15-5 at half-time.
The elevated presence of Collisson, Park and wing defence Ellie Fishlock meant Swans were having a hard time of it, though Katunga goals still garnered the loudest cheers from the stands at 24-9 with one stanza remaining.
Deniliquin ― replete with an air of authority ― went on to take the final term 9-6 and that was all she wrote.
Watching on was Deni Rovers C-grade coach Carissa Holmberg, who echoed the sentiment of others following the club coming ever so close to a clean sweep across A, B, C and C-reserve grades.
“Being able to be in a granny is amazing, but being able to do it with your club is just even better,” she said.
“Celebrating three out of four wins is unbelievable, so it’s such a great club and I love playing for them. This is a great way to finish it off.”
