Wodonga Raiders: Caitlyn Wardius 20, Shaylah House 19.
Best: Yarrawonga: Chloe Wheaton 3, Amy Barnes 2.
Wodonga Raiders: Shaylah House 3, Eliza Howard 2, Georgia Way 1.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The B Grade Grand Final began with a bang for the Pigeons against the Wodonga Raiders with Yarrawonga scoring the first three goals of the match before the Raiders scored their first goal over four minutes into the match.
From there the first quarter was a see-sawing affair with the first 12 minutes going goal for goal and neither team really gaining the ascendancy before the Raiders kicked into gear to go into quarter time 4 goals up.
Caitlin Seymour fed the ball beautifully into the goal ring.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The whole match was reminiscent of a grand final with players of both sides putting their bodies on the line to keep the ball in play or to intercept an opponents pass.
Annalise Grinter and Amy Barnes were ruthless in defence, winning several rebounds with Caitlin Seymour and Jaclyn Oswald moving the ball up the court from the wings.
Jackie Oswald moved the ball well out of defence in the B Grade.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Georgie Hemphill and Emily McNamara were in everything from the centre with Mylah Kennedy, Chloe Wheation, Maddie Kennedy and Eliana Martin putting up everything that came to their hands.
Going into half time the Raiders held an 8-goal lead which the Pigeons pegged back to 6 at three quarter time before both teams went hell for leather in the last quarter in the hopes of bringing home the premiership.
Mylah Kennedy was great in the goal circle for the B Grade Pigeons, scoring 20 of the teams 36 goals.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Unfortunately time ran out for the Pigeons as the Wodonga Raiders claimed the B Grade grand final by 3 goals but the Pigeons had a great year with the club proud of their efforts and achievements.
C Grade
Yarrawonga: 9, 15, 25, 33.
Myrtleford: 7, 14, 22, 31.
On the other foot to the B Grade, the C Grade grand final started with Yarrawonga’s opponents the Myrtleford Alpine Saints running away with a quick lead, scoring the first three goals in quick succession before the Pigeons took control of their game and quickly scored four of their own.
Long passes from the centre third to under the goal ring was the flavour of the first quarter with both teams throwing bullet passes to their shooters to gain ascendancy as the match see sawed.
C Grade’s Helena West moves the ball into the goal ring.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Alisha Leslie was ruthless on the wing, putting herself on the line on multiple occasions to cause a turnover as Caitlin McNamara ran alongside her for support.
Helena West and Briar Rodaughan worked brilliantly together, shooting well or throwing look away passes to each other to gain the better shooting position.
Kirby Holmquest and Macey Hicks were able to spoil the shooters for the Pigeons to get it down the other end of the court.
Once again players of both sides threw themselves at everything as the scores drew in.
At quarter time the Pigeons went in up by 2.
Elle Christian was full of energy and defended everything, getting numerous turnovers as Laura Irvine was injected into the game and had an instant impact.
Partway through the second quarter the Saints pegged the margin back to go ahead with Sophie Wilson running up and down the court, willing the Pigeons back into the contest while Alanna Miller fought for rebounds.
Pigeons supporters cheered on their two netball teams.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The crowd was in for a treat for the second half as the Pigeons went into the half time break one goal up, 15 – 14.
As they say, the third quarter is the premiership quarter with both teams fighting tooth and nail to gain the asendency and get a match winning lead but the first 5 minutes saw both sides essentially go goal for goal.
The Pigeons pulled out to a 5 goal lead at the seven minute mark and began to show their dominance before the Saints showed their fight and won the ball to bring the margin back to 3 at three quarter time, 24 – 21.
The crowd that relished the warm day on the hill got into the spirit in the last, willing on their sides to life witnessing the Saints great fight in the last as they won several tussles and kept pegging the margin back.
Most of the C Grade side celebrated their premiership running onto the field after the siren of the senior footy.
The last quarter was an arm wrestle with both sides essentially going goal for goal as the crowd got even louder, on the edge of their sides wondering who would come out victorious.
At the 10 and a half minute mark scores were level with both sides putting everything they had into the contest and looking like the result may be a draw with extra time before the Pigeons experience shone through and they held on for a two goal win.
The final siren heard jubilation from the Pigeons camp with several sighs of relief as the Pigeons were crowned 2023 C Grade O&M premiers and Macey Hicks was awarded best on court.
