17 and UNDER – MOUNT BURR 56 d KALANGADOO 45
IN a game which could have gone either way, Mount Burr stepped up to book the first position in the Mid South East netball 17 and Under grand final.
The Mozzies seized the upper hand early with strong defensive pressure into the Kalangadoo goal circle.
Macy Burns and Tilly Gamble worked well to stop the drive of Kalangadoo’s goal attack Shayden Russell.
Mount Burr centre Abbey Falting and wing attack Olivia Holland drove strongly to the circle’s edge, feeding the goalies well.
Kalangadoo’s Eleanor Xanthapoulos and Maya Anderson worked hard in the defensive circle, but the Mozzies showed patience when feeding and found their targets.
Mount Burr goal attack Sarah Sigston was the focal point in the circle for the first quarter with Ashlee Dean building into to the game in the last three terms where she shared the shooting load.
The Mozzies continued to make the most of turnovers to have a 15-goal lead by half time.
Limited changes were made during the game by both teams.
In the third quarter Russell worked herself into the game to be a focal point in the circle, helped by the patience of Lucy Egan and Lilly Brook around the circle’s edge.
Kalangadoo made the most of turnovers by its defence to win the third quarter by four, reducing the deficit to 11.
The last quarter was an even affair with both teams making errors due to the defensive pressure in the centre court.
Mount Burr held its composure, even when the Magpies managed to chip back a few goals.
Falting showed leadership through the centre, helping her mid court regain patience and work the ball into the attack line and the Mozzies made the most of their strong start to come away with the honours.
Best players – Kalangadoo: Shayden Russell, Lilly Brook; Mount Burr: Sarah Sigston, Abbey Falting.
15 and UNDER – KALANGADOO 55 d PORT MACDONNELL 47
In a rainy start to the 15 and Under contest, both teams came out strong and the game started at a furious pace.
Bailee Lewis was a focal point at goal attack for Port MacDonnell, shooting 12 of her team’s 14 goals to give the Demons a narrow one-goal lead at quarter time.
Kalangadoo came back strongly in the second, with scores level at half time.
Accurate shooting from both sides was a highlight.
Demons defenders Layla McPherson and Chelsea Fulham worked hard in the circle, trying to limit opportunities to Magpies goalies Kiersten Cole and Lucy Egan.
Kalangadoo goal defence Molly Peacock read the play well and took some timely intercepts to keep her team in the game.
The third quarter had the Magpies surge ahead with Cole and Egan sharing the scoring.
Port MacDonnell had limited opportunities and struggled with its transition giving Kalangadoo an 11-goal lead going in to the last quarter.
The Demons continued to fight back in the last, but there was not enough time and Kalangadoo ended up taking the match by eight goals to book a grand final berth.
Best players – Kalangadoo: Molly Peacock, Lucy Egan; Port MacDonnell: Bailee Lewis, Layla McPherson.
13 and UNDER – HATHERLEIGH 60 d KALANGADOO 44
Hatherleigh’s youngest netballers booked a grand final berth by 16 goals on Saturday.
Meeting Kalangadoo in the qualifying final, the game started off at a high intensity, with both teams coming out strong.
Hatherleigh’s Mollie O’Connor and Livvi Faulkner led with patience and accuracy in a goal-for-goal opening.
They resisted high pressure from Te Kani Clark and Jorja McLaughlin, which resulted in a slight lead of two goals to the Eagles at quarter time.
In the next quarter Kalangadoo’s Zara Cole and Matilda Peacock continued to work tirelessly in attack to find Ebony Reeves in the goal circle.
Leyla Marshall and Kaia Green persisted in their pursuit of circle defence and at half time Hatherleigh had extended its lead by a further goal.
The third term saw a change in positions, with both teams seeking to widen the margin by the next change.
Ashley Grosvenor worked for Kalangadoo to make strong leads in attack but was placed under pressure by Paige Walters.
Milla Lennon entered the court and made a statement with her tight-checking defence, but again Hatherleigh’s accuracy and patience allowed the Eagles to be up by 12 heading into the last.
By the final quarter Hatherleigh had hit its stride and made it difficult for the Magpies to shorten the margin, placing them under pressure in every area of the court.
This pressure proved too much for Kalangadoo and the Eagles came away with a 60-44 win.
Best players – Hatherleigh: Livvi Faulkner, Leyla Marshall; Kalangadoo: Ebony Reeves, Harper Griffiths.
