SANDHURST’S experience in the big matches was to the fore on Saturday as it surged to another Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball grand final.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst took on Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval to earn a place in the season decider against the unbeaten Kangaroo Flat.
A fortnight earlier and the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne scored a 55-52 win against the Dragons in the qualifying final at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Across the season the scores had been 44-40 both times as Sandhurst won on Gisborne’s court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval at Gardiner Reserve, and the Bulldogs took the points at the QEO in 17th round.
The Gisborne line-up was determined to rebound from a 51-37 loss to Kangaroo Flat in the second semi as the Dragons stayed in the race after a 72-56 victory against South Bendigo in the first semi.
Spectators were again treated to a top contest between what was to be the final A-grade match between two of the league’s greatest rivals.
It was goal-for-goal for most of the 60 minutes.
When the siren sounded it was Sandhurst which led 47-43.
Sandhurst coach Tamara Gilchrist said the team’s play in the “big moments” was superb.
“This was the best 60 minutes we have played this season,” Gilchrist said.
Key players in the victory included Meg Williams at wing attack, Heather Oliver at wing defence, and Ruby Turner at goal defence.
“Their experience in finals really shone through,” Gilchrist said.
“The way they were able to control the flow of play was outstanding.”
For Gilchrist it will be a seventh A-grade grand final as coach where the record is four-two.
South Bendigo won through to the A-reserve grand final after a five-goal win against Gisborne in the preliminary final.
The Lauren Bowles and Amanda Walters-coached Bloods showed they had learnt plenty from a 49-50 loss to the Bulldogs in the qualifying final.
After bouncing back with an 18-goal win against Sandhurst in the first semi, South Bendigo took on the Bulldogs who were beaten in the second semi clash with Kangaroo Flat by five goals.
The Bloods worked incredibly hard to score a 41-36 victory on preliminary final day against the Kayleen Elliott-coached Gisborne team.
As it has done for many seasons, Gisborne will feature on grand final day as its B-grade and B-reserve teams take to the court.
The Bulldogs will take on Strathfieldsaye in B-grade.
Storm won a 35-34 thriller against Kangaroo Flat in the preliminary final.
It had been one-all between the teams in the home-and-away series.
The Jo Artavilla and Carlie Brennan-coached Strathfieldsaye won the qualifying final against South Bendigo by 17 goals, but Gisborne controlled a lot of the play to win the second semi against Storm by nine goals.
The Chelsea Sartori and Kate Newman-coached Kangaroos had made their way to preliminary final day from the elimination final with wins against Sandhurst, 41-35; and South Bendigo, 29-26.
In B-reserve, Kangaroo Flat dominated the preliminary final clash with South Bendigo.
On the rebound from a 34-46 loss to Gisborne in the second semi the Nina Cass-coached Kangaroo Flat charged to a 52-26 victory against the Bloods.
The Roos had beaten the Sarah Dennis and Katie Richmond-coached South Bendigo in the home-and-away series by 16 and four goals.
Sandhurst won its way into the 17-and-under grand final against Strathfieldsaye .
The Carol Cathcart and Rose Gallagher-coached Dragons met Golden Square in the preliminary final after Storm won the second semi against Sandhurst by four goals.
It was one-all between Sandhurst and the Jody Richards-coached Golden Square in the run to the finals.
A 38-29 victory in the preliminary final meant Sandhurst stayed in the title race.
Preliminary final day began with a one-goal thriller between South Bendigo and Golden Square in the 15-and-under match.
It was a superb effort by the young Bloods to claim a 40-39 win as Golden Square had defeated them by 25 and 22 goals in the home-and-away series and by 10 goals in the qualifying final.
The Bulldogs were on the rebound from a 14-goal loss to Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
A South Bendigo team coached by Rox Hayes had won the first semi against Eaglehawk by 12 goals and the Bloods pressure went to another level in its fourth meeting with the blue and gold this season.
The Golden Square team was coached by Clare Hope and Sharni McPherson.
Five clubs will feature in next Saturday’s grand finals on the netball court at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst will be represented by three teams as Gisborne, South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye have two teams chasing premiership glory.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo:
15-and-under at 8.15am: Sandhurst v South Bendigo.
17-and-under at 9.40am: Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.
B-reserve at 11.05am: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.
B-grade at 12.30pm: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.
A-reserve at 1.55pm : Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.
