North Gambier underdogs arise

HIGH STAKES: North Gambier’s Ashlee Kalantarian feeds the ball into the centre as East Gambier’s Tyne Bosko leaps for an interception during Saturday’s preliminary final. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

THE trend of the Western Border A Grade netball preliminary final falling the way of the underdog continued on Saturday, as North Gambier secured a surprise seven-goal win over East Gambier.

The clash was the fourth successive preliminary final between the two clubs and the fourth time the team not most favoured advanced to the grand final.

It was a tense opening as both sides settled into life without North shooting star Caroline Davey at the post – the Tigers’ shooter rupturing her Achilles in the second semi-final.

North was forced to reconfigure its forward line, with Kaitlin Egan moved into goal attack, while Ellie Gould moved back to shooter, Ash Kalantarian took to the attacking wing and youngster Emily Close started on the defensive wing.

While the Bulldogs had their usual line-up, preparations were also difficult for East, which had spent a season working on how to combat Davey, only to have no idea what they would be faced with on preliminary final day.

Neither side ever really found good rhythm in offence and some rain during the second half did little to improve the ball movement.

Maddie Whaites and Jordyn Adams started strong at North’s defensive end, while across the court East’s Morgan Amy and Bo Creek were able to pick up some turnover ball and help East to a two goal advantage late in the first quarter.

However, North dominated the second quarter as its attack began to find some synergy.

Gould used some well-timed rolls and strong holds to earn plenty of ball, netting 11 from 12 to help the Tigers work their way to a three-goal lead at half time.

The Bulldogs looked more settled in the third term, but they just did not earn enough scoring opportunities.

Newly crowned association best and fairest Tenille Gray took some strong balls and finished six from seven, but too often East lost the ball before it reached its shooters.

Gould again was the focal point with Egan, Kalantarian and Amanda O’Shaughnessy moving the ball between them to work the angles and eventually open up the space and enter the final break six goals clear.

East moved Jacinta Clark into keeper for the final stanza and Morgan Amy to the attacking wing, where she had such a strong 2017 finals series, but Whaites and Adams continued to create turnovers and Close had a superb final quarter.

Despite a solid final quarter effort from the Bulldogs, North went on to score 18 goals to East’s 13 and take the win and secure a final 2018 meeting with Millicent at McDonald Park this weekend.