Mulwala 65 def by Tongala 72
Mulwala came agonisingly close to booking a spot in the Grand Final, falling just seven goals short against the Tongala Blues in a heart-stopping Preliminary Final.
The Lions showed plenty of fight throughout the contest, overcoming a slow start to keep themselves firmly in the hunt. After scoring 23 goals in the opening half, Mulwala lifted its intensity down the stretch, producing 17 goals in a quarter and twice hitting the lead in the final three minutes.
With neither side willing to give an inch, the scores were locked at 57-all at the end of regulation time, setting up a thrilling period of extra time.
Mulwala continued to battle, but was held to three goals in the first half of extra time as Tongala managed to establish a five-goal cushion.
The Lions refused to surrender, but Tongala extended its advantage in the second stanza to eventually escape with a 72-65 victory.
Despite the heartbreaking result, Mulwala can take plenty of pride from a determined performance that saw the Lions push one of the competition’s top sides all the way to the wire.
The result brings Mulwala’s season to an end, while Tongala advances to Saturday’s Grand Final at Moama to face minor premier Nathalia.
B Grade Netball
Mulwala 50 def Moama 42
Mulwala B Grade secured its spot in the Grand Final with a fantastic 50-42 win over Moama in Saturday’s Preliminary Final.
Despite the heat of the day, the girls came out ready to work and showed just how much they wanted the win. From the first whistle, they stayed focused on executing the basics, remaining patient and trusting the process, even when the pressure was on.
The girls backed each other all game, worked hard to capitalise on the small wins and continued to build momentum throughout the match. Every possession mattered, and the team showed great determination to make the most of their opportunities.
There was no backing down from this group. They fought hard for one another, stayed composed under pressure and demonstrated the hunger and resilience needed to get across the line.
With one more huge game to go, this team has a massive fire in their bellies. The Grand Final awaits.
