The opening week of the ‘Choose Tap’ netball finals series drew a huge crowd and featured two exhilarating matches which were decided in overtime.
Over 600 people attended the matches at Parade College on Friday night, with the drawn matches in Section 1 and Section 5 two of the highlights of the night.
SECTION 1
Top-placed Lakeside 1 played reigning champion Diamond Creek in the Section 1 second semi final. Diamond Creek brought in star Stacey Gannon who also plays for Victorian Fury in the National League. It is certainly great to see players of Stacey’s calibre playing in our competition. Diamond Creek proved too strong on the night and moved on to their sixth Grand Final appearance.
The first semi final was played between North Heidleberg A and Fitzroy Stars A, two sides who have been separated by little right throughout the season. Amazingly, the scores were tied at match end with extra time required to decide who went through to the preliminary final. With great skills and determination being shown from both teams, supporters were kept on the edge of their seat until the final bell sounded. Eventually it was North Heidelberg who prevailed in a 43-38 result.
SECTION 2
Heidelberg Tigers and Whittlesea A met in the second semi final, with both teams aiming to go straight through and cement their place in the Grand Final. It was to be first-placed Heidleberg Tigers who took a 35-16 victory and will now play in their first Grand Final in the NFL’s netball competition.
Scores were a lot closer in the first semi between North Heidelberg B and Greensborough 2 in a game that went right down to the wire. With the North Heidelberg B coach and her fellow teammates just getting over line in Section 1, the B side too were looking forward to following in their footsteps. It was not to be with however, with Greensborough 2 throwing everything into a tightly contested game to take a 27-22 win. The Boro shall now play Whittlesea A in the preliminary final this Friday night.
SECTION 3
Undefeated St Mary’s A and Bundoora Comets B put on an awesome display of netball in the Section 3 second semi final, which kept the spectators entertained throughout. St Mary’s ran out the victors by seven goals to secure the first spot in the Grand Final. The result means the Burra take a 19-game winning streak into the premiership decider.
The first semi was playing at the early time slot between Thomastown A and South Morang Gold. Despite finishing one spot lower on the ladder, South Morang Gold proved too strong on the night and will now go onto play Bundoora Comets B on Friday night for the final place in this year’s Grand Final.
SECTION 4
Bundoora Comets C and Lakeside were on par at the end of the home and away series, making the Section 4 second semi one of the most anticipated games in week one of the finals. The scores were tight at the first change, but Bundoora was unable to match Lakeside for four quarters in a 14-goal loss. The Comets have a second chance and will face Watsonia B in this week’s preliminary final.
Epping Blue, who is one of the competition’s foundation clubs, came up against new comer Watsonia B in the first semi final. Both sides were desperate to win to keep their season alive and gave their all. Watsonia proved a little too strong in the 39-25 win and unfortunately for Epping, its finals campaign was brought to an end.
SECTION 5
St Mary’s B, who has held onto top spot on the ladder for the season, was out to prove itself on the big stage when it met Watsonia in the second semi. St Mary’s got off to a strong start and held onto its lead right through to the final bell. The result meant both St Mary’s sides took the direct route to the Grand Final.
The Section 5 first semi final between North Heidelberg C and Heidelberg Hawkettes was arguably the game of the night. The Hawkettes controlled the game early, but North Heidelberg C refused to yield. Nothing separated the sides when the final whistle blew and, once again, extra time was required. Unbelievably North Heidleberg supporters and coaches had already been in this position earlier in the night and wouldn’t have been left with any fingernails given the heart-stopping matches they had witnessed. However, unlike in Section 1, it would be North who succumbed in overtime with the Hawkettes claiming a three-goal win.
SECTION 6
Fitzroy Stars C and Greensborough had played close encounters right throughout the season and the second semi final was no different. Both teams were hard and physical at the ball and put in 100 percent. As we know there can only be one winner, and Fitzroy Stars C claimed a four-goal win to progress to the club’s first Grand Final.
Thomastown, who has played finals in the NFL netball competition for a number of years, was hoping its first semi final against Watsonia was not going to be its last match of the year. A close game eventuated, with Thomastown prevailing by three goals to set up a preliminary final date with Greensborough.
Following a wonderful opening week of the ‘Choose Tap’ finals series, the action in this week’s preliminary finals at Parade College is very much being looked forward to.
