Warrandyte Netball Club have just completed their most successful season in recent memory.
Fourteen of the club’s 18 teams made the top four in the Doncaster and Districts Netball Association winter competition, 10 played in the preliminary finals, seven reached the grand finals and four brought home the ultimate prize.
Of the five Under-11 teams, who do not play finals, four finished in the top four, with the 11/4 Joeys – in their first season of netball – and 11/1 Blackbirds top of their sections.
Warrandyte’s premiers were the 13/1 Rosellas, the 13/2 Sparrows, the 15/3 Kookaburras and the Open B Eagles.
The Rosellas, coached by Mandy Ratcliffe, fought a close and tough battle throughout, displaying a great standard of skill and sportsmanship to defeat DYC Lynx by a single goal, 25-24.
The Sparrows, coached by Natalie Dusting, were all tied up with Deep Creek at half-time in their grand final, but ran away in the second half to win 22-11.
It was the Warrandyte girls’ first grand final and a first for the coach, so early game nerves were understandable.
Bruce Twite’s Kookaburras were all fired up for their game against Donvale Magic and they played accordingly, winning 25-12.
Again, it was the first grand final for players and coach and their performance on court showed just how badly they wanted to win it.
The Eagles went about their business as if it were just any other Saturday game but had no intention of allowing the Koonung Flyers a look in.
They stepped up their game in the second quarter and were too good all over the court, the 45-24 final scoreline telling the story.
Warrandyte’s beaten grand finalists were the 13/3 Wallabies, the 15/ 1 Magpies and the 17/2 Ravens.
The Wallabies, coached by Rochelle Roodhouse, went down 27-24 to DYC Koolkats in a very good game of netball; Jacinta Hennessy’s Magpies were overrun by DYC Jaguars in the second half to go down 29-16; and Erica McCutcheon’s Ravens took it right down to the wire against Donvale Angels, losing 16-16.
“There was a terrific finals atmosphere on the day, WNC secretary Pauline Dusting told the Diary.
“Some of the girls sprayed their hair in red and white strips, others furiously waved red and white streamers every time a Warrandyte goal was scored.
“A great day for the club and very pleasing to see the girls being supportive not only of their team but other teams as well.”
Warrandyte Diary, September 2003
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