Warrandyte Netball Club’s winter season ended with a grand final spree as six of the club’s eight teams fought for the premiership in their respective grades.
Eight teams had made it to the finals and six Warrandyte teams achieved spots in grand final matches.
Warrandyte was represented in the grand finals by Under 13 section 1 Brumbies; Under 13 section 2 Fantails; Under 13 section 3 Wallabies; Under 15 section 1 Magpies; Under 15 section 2 Rosellas; and Under 17 section 1 Eagles.
Of the six grand final teams, the sole premiers were the Under 13/2 Fantails. The team was Sarah Abdurazak, Hannah Carter, Tara Cromwell, Zoe Kleeberg, Matilda Post, Kennedy Price, Riley Price, Rebecca Sierak and Aly Smead.
The team was coached by Helena Dwyer and Zanetta Hosking.
The Fantails defeated the ED Diamonds 17-13.
Dwyer said: “The girls played an awesome game and deserved the win.”
The young coaches themselves have had a very successful year as players, both having been selected in talent identification tournaments along with Under 17/1 player Montana Cox, to go on to future invitation-only competitions.
The closest runners-up who went down by the narrowest of margins were the Under 17/1 Eagles, coached by Nat Dusting.
The team comprised Montana Cox, Zanetta Hosking, Sarah Lewis, Rhianna Kermm, Georgia Nichol, Harriet Rappell, Ally Van Summeran and Cass Wilson. The Eagles lost to the ED Hotshots 24-25.
Dusting said: “It was one of the most rewarding seasons for me and the girls. Ultimately you win some by one and you lose some by one.”
In the previous week’s semi-final the Eagles defeated the Toxic Barbies by only one goal.
Other Warrandyte Netball Club runners-up were:
Under 13/1 Brumbies: Sara Febbo, Keeley Green, Zoe Hogan, Sienna Jones, Kayla Mansour, Rachael McKernan and Caitlin Yule, coached by Ally Van Summeran and Courtney Ratcliff.
The Brumbies lost to the East Doncaster Rockets 11-24. Van Summeran said: “It was an amazing game and we tried hard. Every single one of the players put in 100 per cent.”
Under 13/3 Wallabies: Lizzie Ellis, Lara Petrou, Nicola Pinolo, Eve Portwood, Sam Stockley, Celene Watson and Jenny Wilson, coached by Jess Dusting and Gabbie Ryan.
The Wallabies lost to the DYC Bobcats 11-24. Dusting said that the team had improved over the season. “Half had not played at all before, but made the finals, and I was very proud of them.”
Under 15/1 Magpies: Claudia Bowers, Jess Dusting, Helena Dwyer, Kirilee Hosier, Georgette McKeough, Sophie Richardson, Marjorie Saunders, Sarah Wainewright, and coached by Amie Dusting.
The Magpies lost to the DYC Cougars, 13-24. “It was a great season. The girls unfortunately did not win on the day but next season will be our season’ said Dusting.
Under 15/2 Rosellas: Taylah Brendish, Alex Drohan, Brenna Edsell, Ysabel Galley, Natalie Kouts, Julia Lewis, Courtney Ratcliff. Gabbie Ryan, Zoe Van Guylick and coached by Jan Bryar.
The Rosellas went down to the Koonung Hotshots by only two, 16-18. “It was a great team effort, but we were beaten on the day by a better team,” said Bryar.
Warrandyte Netball Club president, Sonya Febbo said that the teams all had good winter seasons. The biggest challenge had confronted the open-aged teams playing in Open A, after previously being in Under 17 competitions.
The spring 2008 season started late last month.
Warrandyte Diary, September 2008
Warrandyte Diary archives
