KANGAROO Flat skipped clear of Sandhurst in Saturday’s A-grade netball grand final to cap another perfect season in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League.
The Kangaroos’ winning streak became 34 after it took control in the second quarter of the match at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos went in as hot favourite to claim the trophy in the Bendigo Mazda-backed competition.
Kangaroo Flat had beaten the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst in both home-and-away matches.
A red-hot Kangaroos’ line-up had won the second semi-final against Gisborne by 14 goals on their way to a third consecutive grand final appearance.
It was a tougher run for Sandhurst which bounced back from a 55-52 loss to Gisborne in the qualifying final to win the first semi against South Bendigo by 16 goals.
The maroon and blue then earnt a shot at Kangaroo Flat in the decider when it scored a 47-43 victory against Gisborne in the preliminary final.
On grand final day the Kangaroos won a hard-fought first quarter by three goals.
The Kangaroos bounced away in the second quarter to hold a 12-goal buffer by half-time.
Sandhurst kept working hard, but the Roos’ experience in all thirds of the court became a key factor.
A star-studded Kangaroo Flat team included goal attack Ruby Barkmeyer who earnt this season’s Betty Thompson Medal as the competition’s fairest and best.
A formidable attack was Barkmeyer joining forces with Teal Hocking.
Both are also team-mates for Bendigo Strikers in the Victorian Netball League championship action.
In mid-court there was the poise and skill of captain Chelsea Sartori, a dual Thompson medallist, and Ash Ryan who earnt the league’s highest individual honour when playing for Eaglehawk.
There have been many factors which have driven Kangaroo Flat’s players and coaches across an incredible run of form the past two seasons.
Among them was a two-goal loss to Gisborne in the grand final two years ago.
Memories from that final quarter fade-out against the Bulldogs have spurred on the likes of Sartori, Abbey and Ash Ryan since then.
This time the Roos kept their composure to claim a memorable 64-54 victory.
An outstanding performance by Ash Ryan in her latest grand final win earnt best-on-court honours.
The premiership medals were presented by Karly Bingham.
A legend at Kangaroo Flat and a Bendigo FNL life member, Nina Cass presented the premiership cup.
Kangaroo Flat’s team:
Ruby Barkmeyer GA, GS, WA; Teal Hocking GS, GA, WA; Ava Lowndes GK, GD; Alicia McGlashan GD, GK; Abbey Ryan GS, GA; Ash Ryan WA, C; Chelsea Sartori, C; Megan Wilson WD, GD.
Coach: Jayden Cowling.
A premiership hat-trick is now the goal for the all-conquering Kangaroo Flat line-up.
The club attempted the three-peat after the grand final wins in 2003 and ’04, and 2009 and ’10, but came up short.
Kangaroo Flat’s record in A-grade grand finals now stands at 10-5.
For Sandhurst it’s a tally of 11-11.
In A-reserve it was South Bendigo which fought on brilliantly in a 42-40 victory against Kangaroo Flat.
Sibling rivalry was on the sidelines as Kangaroo Flat co-coach Jayden Cowling was up against his older sister, Lauren Bowles who was coaching South Bendigo.
The Roos had Ash Ryan as assistant coach.
The assistant coach of the Bloods was Amanda Walters.
In the run to the finals Kangaroo Flat had scored a 61-40 win against South Bendigo in round eight at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
It was a one-goal game in round 17 as the Kangaroos won 43-42 on their court at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
The Kangaroos won the second semi-final against Gisborne by five goals.
After a one-goal loss to Gisborne in the qualifying final, South Bendigo hit back to win the first semi against Sandhurst by 18 goals.
The Bloods then scored a 41-36 victory against Gisborne in the preliminary final.
In the biggest match of the season it was South Bendigo goaler Olivia Treloar who earnt best-on-court honours in a 42-40 victory by the Bloods.
South Bendigo captain Sarah Nash raised the cup as the Bloods celebrated their first A-reserve premiership.
The leadership of co vice-captains Katelyn Parry in defence and Olivia Treloar in attack was a key factor in the Bloods’ success.
South Bendigo’s team:
Kira Baldwin, Lauren Bowles, Carissa Brook, Shelley DeAraugo, Remi Kuhne, Olivia Mason, Amy Morrissey, Sarah Nash, Katelyn Parry, Olivia Treloar.
Coach: Lauren Bowles. Assistant coach: Amanda Walters.
A memorable day for Gisborne FNC included a 27-goal win against Strathfieldsaye in the B-grade netball grand final.
The Rylee Connell-coached Gisborne was unbeaten across the 16-round home-and-away series.
Gisborne scored a 44-35 win against Strathfieldsaye in the second semi-final.
A Strathfieldsaye team coached by Jo Artavilla and assisted by Carlie Brennan had won the qualifying final against South Bendigo by 17 goals before facing Gisborne on day three of the finals campaign.
After the second semi defeat the Storm line-up bounced back for a 35-34 win against Kangaroo Flat in the preliminary final.
On grand final day it was Gisborne which prove to be too strong.
Gisborne powered its way to a 53-26 victory as coach Rylee Connell earnt the best-on-court medal.
A premiership capped a great season by Gisborne’s Olivia Fenn who earnt the Carol Bingham Medal as the competition’s fairest and best player.
Gisborne’s team:
RyleJe Connell, Olivia Fenn, Charlotte McMurray, Georgia Murray, Monty Paton, Lily Prater, Phoebe Priest, Taylah Ranieri, Tarryn Rymer, Bridget Salter, Lulu Salter.
Coach: Rylee Connell. Team manager: Kerry Ranieri.
It was a closely-fought B-reserve decider between Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat.
A 15-1 record meant the Kangaroos finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder.
Sole defeat for the Nina Cass and Bonnie Roberts-coached Kangaroo Flat in the run to the finals was a 52-50 loss to Gisborne at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park in the 10th round.
Kangaroo Flat had tipped off the season by scoring a 42-35 win on Gisborne’s court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
The Shelley Farrugia-coached Gisborne won the qualifying final against South Bendigo by 11 goals and a week later defeated Kangaroo Flat in the second semi-final by 12 goals.
Kangaroo Flat bounced back to record a 52-26 win against South Bendigo in the preliminary final.
Led by the play of Macey Drayton who earnt best-on-court honours for her play in defence it was Gisborne which scored a 42-38 victory in the grand final.
Co-captains of the Gisborne team were the versatile Bridget Salter and defender Caytlyn Walker.
Kangaroo Flat team-mates Megan Kelly and Sophie Ingram went one-two in the race for the league’s fairest and best award.
Gisborne’s team:
Holly Brewer, Macey Drayton, Shelley Farrugia, Sapphy McCarthy, Adele McKibbin, Monique McKibbin, Bec Merrett, Lily Prater, Bridget Salter, Polly Salter, Caytyln Walker.
Coach: Shelley Farrugia. Team manager: Marissa Brewer.
It was a two-goal thriller in the 17-and-under grand final between Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye.
A 14-2 record in the regular season put the Carol Cathcart and Rose Gallagher-coached Sandhurst on top of the ladder as Storm was third on a 12-4 record.
Sandhurst had beaten Storm by 12 goals in round seven at the QEO and then by nine goals at Triple M Park in the 16th round.
On second semi-final day it was the Fiona Schubert and Julie Fennell-coached Strathfieldsaye which surged to a 34-30 win against the maroon and blue.
A week earlier and Storm had scored a 42-40 win against Golden Square in the qualifying final.
Stung by defeat in the second semi, Sandhurst hit back to win the preliminary final against Golden Square by nine goals.
A strong Sandhurst line-up included Carol Sing medallist Ese Phillips and Evie Gretgrix who was the league’s best player at 17-and-under representative level.
Strong defence by Gretgrix became a key factor as she earnt best-on-court honours in a 37-35 win by Sandhurst’s rising stars.
Sandhurst’s team:
Mila Childs, Mia Cox, Sarah Crowley, Elle Gilchrist, Eva Grant, Evie Gretgrix, Blessing John, Ese Phillips, Sienna Raco, Maycee Rinaldi, Lily Teuma.
Coaches: Carol Cathcart and Rose Gallagher.
Grand final day began with the first clash for the 15-and-under premiership cup between Sandhurst and South Bendigo.
The Reese Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst had won all 12 matches in the home-and-away series.
The streak included wins against South Bendigo by 52 and 32 goals.
A 14-goal win against Golden Square in the second semi meant Sandhurst was first to the grand final.
The Rox Hayes-coached South Bendigo hit back from an eight-goal loss to Golden Square in the qualifying final to defeat Eaglehawk in the first semi by 12 goals.
A rematch with Golden Square in the preliminary final ended in a 40-39 win for the young Bloods.
In the clash to decide the season’s best it was Sandhurst which controlled a lot of the play.
Goalshooter Harper Gordon capped off many attacks to be best-on-court in a 58-32 win by Sandhurst.
Stars in in the run to the premiership included Elle Gilchrist who was captain and the league’s fairest and best player.
The co vice-captains were Alana Borhcard and Alexis Caruana.
Sandhurst’s team:
Alana Borchard, Alexis Caruana, Alicia Crowley, Elke Fletcher, Elle Gilchrist, Harper Gordon, Ruby Kelly, Ellie Macumber, Eliza Main, Christina Napoleon, Macey White. Coach: Reese Gilchrist.
