Netballers snare three winter titles
Warrandyte Netball Club has won three premierships in the winter season of the Doncaster and District Netball Association.
The long-sought and highly valued premiership by the Warrandyte Open A Falcons is possibly the first by the club in the open age group in 10 years.
It was won by the barest of margins after the final siren.
Playing coach Nat Dusting’s Falcons, including Brittany Duncan, Amie Dusting, Georgia Nichol, Emma Rhode, Emma Stanley, Cass Wilson, Georgia Walker, and Amy Taip, defeated the Donvale Divinez 33–32.
The exciting game was even throughout, with scores level at half time. It was an important win and, for several team members, an outstanding result following the first season in the Open age group.
Another close and exciting game, where the winner had to be from Warrandyte, was the Under-15 Section 2 grand final.
The Warrandyte Under-15/2 Galahs were victorious over the Warrandyte Under-15/2 Rosellas 28–23. The Galahs had finished top of the ladder, while the Rosellas finished third, and the result was a good outcome for both teams.
The Galahs, featuring Millie Cieslik, Tara Cromwell, Holly Jenkins, Katelyn Horton, Alana Mudford, Lauren Mueller, Cara Watson, and Danielle Wright, were coached by Aiden Wright.
Wearing red bibs in the grand final to distinguish themselves from the blue-bibbed Galahs, the Rosellas were coached by Erika Dyason. The team included Rebekah Fall, Kirsty Gates, Kayla Mansour, Rachael McKernan, Katrina Morris, Olivia Valbonesi, Caitlin Yule, and Jasmine Woods.
The third premiership for Warrandyte went to the Under-13 Section 3 Sunbirds.
Coached by Ally Drohan and Courtney Ratcliffe, the Sunbirds finished top of the ladder and won the grand final 20–14.
Sonya Febbo, club president, said the team was down at half time by three but gave a mammoth
third quarter effort to be up by three at the final change, winning by six.
She said the team had a slow start but the girls pulled together as a team to win against the Donvale Dolphinz.
The Sunbirds team was Sophie Bell, Micaela Bumpstead, Olivia Chan, Stephanie Duncan, Kelsey
Horton, Eliza McIntyre, Elly Papastergiadis, Lara Petrou, Megan Pring and Sam Stockley.
The other Warrandyte team to reach the grand final was the Under 13 Section 1 Brumbies. Coached by Jenny Price and Sarah Wainewright, the Brumbies team was Maddy Edsell, Claire Garrick, Bridie Jones, Zoe Kleeberg, Corrin Mueller, Kennedy Price, Riley
Price, Rebecca Sierak, Emma Sundberg and Josie Ward.
The Brumbies had finished second on the ladder to DYC and in the grand final went down to the
top placed DYC Cubs 30-16.
Warrandyte Netball Club fielded 17 teams in the Doncaster and District Netball Association winter season with nine out of 13 eligible teams playing in finals.
In the spring season starting on 22 August, Warrandyte will field 19 teams.
Enquiries to the secretary.
Warrandyte Diary, June 2009
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