THE Tenison Woods College Senior Netball team claimed the Waverly International Schools Netball Championship recently.
The Senior side showed their strength in the carnival after they lost just the one minor round to Rowville College.
Tenison Woods College finished the minor rounds in second place and took on St Mary’s College in the first semi-final.
The girls secured their place in the final with an impressive win and contested Maribrynong in the grand final.
The Titans got off to a nervy start in attack and Maribrynong moved the ball effectively.
The defensive pressure from Paige Lucas, Ellie Bouchier and Portia McRae was not enough in the first quarter as Tenison Woods went into the first break behind by four goals.
The Titans increased their intensity in the second quarter as Tess Porter applied pressure while Bouchier and McRae made key intercepts to reduce the deficit to one goal at halftime.
Tenison Woods found some momentum in the third term and moved the ball well in attack.
Siobhan Adams and Daisy Tunkin used their speed and smarts to deliver the ball to Lillie Paul and Annelise Janssen.
Janssen was a stand-out shooter for the Titans as she shot accurately from long-range.
At the final change Tenison Woods was four goals in front and got off to a flying start in the fourth quarter.
Bouchier and McRae were strong in defence to shut down the opposition’s goalies.
Matilda Lamb entered the game midway through the final quarter and provided drive out of defence.
Tunkin continued to run hard on the wind to set up opportunities in attack and was awarded best on court as the Titans claimed the title.
“I was thrilled to be able to coach the senior girls to a win in this competition,” Tenison Woods coach Donna Denton said.
“They are very talented athletes and played very well throughout the week.
“The grand final win was a great reward for their commitment to representing the College at sporting events.”
The 15 and under Junior side consisted of 10 girls in Years 9 and 10.
They were led by captain Macey Griffith who was vital throughout the tournament with her accurate shooting.
Vice-captain Ava Collins proved hard to beat as she used her height to full measure.
The junior Titans got off to a strong start as they claimed three wins from four games.
Alex Hudson’s speed and Eva Crowe’s defensive pressure, meant the opponents found goals hard to come by.
The competition heated up on the second day as the Titans had their eyes set on remaining in the top four.
Cara Nulty and Poppy Venn were assets to he team with their versatility to play multiple roles on the court.
As fatigue set in on the third day, it took a complete team effort to maintain a top four position as finals loomed.
Madison Harrold worked hard in the middle to create turnovers, while Mia Gysbers was vital on the defensive end.
Holly Flint remained a positive influence on the team and Niah Faulkner was adaptable and worked hard to play her role on the court.
On the final day, the team claimed fourth place after two difficult games in the finals.
The Titans lost just three games for the entirety of the tournament, two of which were to the eventual champions.
