HATHERLEIGH’S A Grade side started strong in the Mid South East netball preliminary final against Tantanoola at Nangwarry on Saturday, but in the end it was the Tigers who claimed the win and the last grand final position.
The Eagles came out firing to be four goals up in the opening two minutes of the game, with Tantanoola’s nerves showing.
Casey Walker took a big fall at for the Tigers at the start of the quarter, but bounced back well.
Keston Green was again Hatherleigh’s focal point in goals with strong feeding by Kelsey Wight.
The Tigers started to settle and wrestled the score back to five-all.
Olivia Fuller at goal keeper started to get her hands on some rebounds for Tantanoola, while Casey Walker and Kate Varcoe were patient in attack for the Tigers, as Maddie Redman was picking off any loose passes into the circle.
The second quarter went goal-for-goal early with the Tigers the more settled, as Jami Walker and Emma Gould shooting at 100pc for the term.
Eagles’ Helen Hamilton worked hard in the mid court.
But the Tigers had settled and went into half time with an eight-goal lead.
The third term started with a wet court after a shower and both teams slowed their tempo with turnovers a plenty.
Hatherleigh missed some opportunities early and neither team seemed to be able to gain momentum.
Redman continued to make passing to Gould difficult, but Tantanoola was able to increase its lead to 10 going into the final stanza.
The Eagles started the last quarter with a goal off the Tigers’ centre pass, but Fuller and Bromley were able to break back.
Wight and Green worked tirelessly in Hatherleigh’s attack line to bring the side back into the game.
Tantanoola started to miss opportunities and the Eagles were back within six goals midway through.
Hatherleigh threw everything at the Tigers to try and unsettle their drive to the circle and with better shooting by Maddie Pulmer and Green, a three-goal deficit was the result at the final whistle.
That sees Tantanoola with a grand final berth against reigning premiers Kalangadoo this weekend in the grand final at Glencoe.
