MGNA: Saints claim A Grade premiership

A GRADE TITLE: Saints' Kirralie Spada (back left), Abby Patzel, Rhianna Primmer, Sam Primmer (Captain), Chloe Pendrey, Kiara Childs, Stacey de Hass (front left), Zoe Rout, Paige Primmer and Brooke Lloyd are all smiles after securing the Mount Gambier Netball Association A Grade title.
A GRADE TITLE: Saints’ Kirralie Spada (back left), Abby Patzel, Rhianna Primmer, Sam Primmer (Captain), Chloe Pendrey, Kiara Childs, Stacey de Hass (front left), Zoe Rout, Paige Primmer and Brooke Lloyd are all smiles after securing the Mount Gambier Netball Association A Grade title.

THE Mount Gambier Netball Association season came to an end on the weekend with Saints claiming the A Grade premiership for 2017.

Saints was favoured entering into the finals series on top of the ladder.

However, its grand final opponent Hobitz was up for the challenge.

Both Saints and Hobitz came out hard in the first quarter with even match ups all over court.

Paige Primmer and Chloe Pendrey were given the challenge of shooting for Saints and were up against the tenacity of Hobitz defensive duo Lisa Rainey and Sam Crute.

Down the opposite end, Georgia Ferguson and Jodi Greenwood had to contend with the strength of Rhiannon Primmer and Brooke Lloyd.

Mid-court players Kym Stewart, Cindy Gollan and Bridgette McKinnon each needed to ensure precision passing with their drive down the court to enable their goalies to score well.

Saints relied on Zoe Rout, Kirralie Spada and Stacy de Hass to ensure the ball moved smoothly from one end to the other.

Scoring was even for the most of the first quarter, but it was Hobitz which claimed a one-goal advantage going into the break.

Saints took to the court with Spada going into goal defence, Rhiannon Primmer into centre, Sam Primmer coming into the game at wing attack and Rout resting.

The move caught Hobitz off guard for the first few minutes of the game, until it regained composure.

With no changes for Hobitz, players focused on their defensive work.

Each team displayed passages of play that proved why they were both playing off in the grand final.

The midcourt play was closely contested, which made it difficult for both sides to find a direct path into the goal circle.

Saints focused on the accuracy being shown from Paige Primmer and the height of Pendrey to get them through, against the height and work from Crute and Rainey.

A GRADE BEST ON COURT: Hobitz mid court player Bridgette McKinnon.

Work from Spada and Lloyd in the Saints defence ring forced Greenwood and Ferguson to maintain composure and provide strength and accuracy in the tough and physical quarter.

A highly contested quarter saw the scores level at half time.

Saints returned Rout to wing attack, while Sam Primmer took herself off.

In the third the goalies from each side were shooting well, with Paige Primmer again a focal point in the circle.

However, Rainey and Crute did manage a number of impressive turnovers to keep Hobitz in touch.

By the end of the third quarter, scores remained tied which set up a nail-biting final term to decide the premiership.

Saints came out in the last quarter with Pendrey and Paige Primmer swapping bibs, as well as Spada and Rhiannon Primmer doing the same.

Swapping the two goalies became a game-changer.

Hobitz defenders Rainey and Crute continued their work rate again taking a couple of interceptions and forcing high balls into the Saints’ goal ring.

Lloyd and Rhiannon Primmer applied strong pressure for the quarter.

The team work from these two players proving too strong for the Hobitz goalies to combat.

Missed attempts at goal allowed Saints to return the ball into their attack and take an advantage.

Midcourt play again never wavered with de Hass taking a couple of interceptions which allowed Saints to score.

By the end of the quarter, Saints gained the momentum and swung the game its way, taking the title with a six-goal victory.

Best on court being was awarded to Hobitz player Bridgette McKinnon.

Final score: Saints 46 d Hobitz 40