Roos end Dragons’ dominance to reach grand final
KANGAROO Flat finally broke Sandhurst’s dominance against it to win the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s A-grade preliminary final on Saturday.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos showed they had learnt a lot from the four-goal loss to the Dragons in the qualifying final as they took to the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Led brilliantly by the play of Milly Wicks at wing defence and Abbey Ryan at goal attack, Kangaroo Flat surged to a nine-goal lead by half-time.
It was goal-for-goal throughout the third as the Flat maintained a nine-goal buffer.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst capitalised on some turnovers in the final term to edge closer, but the Roos steadied and led 51-47 at the final siren.
Kangaroo Flat’s players and supporters celebrated a long-awaited victory against the maroon and blue.
The focus now moves on to a grand final showdown with reigning premier, Gisborne.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne beat the Roos in the 18th round.
Belief played a big part in the Roos’ latest triumph and will be the theme in trying to net the A-grade premiership trophy for the first time since 2016.
Kangaroo Flat was runner-up to long-time nemesis, Sandhurst in 2019 and ’22.
In this season’s run to the finals, Kangaroo Flat scored a six-goal win on Gisborne’s court in the ninth round.
During the year, Jayden Cowling and Tarryn Rymer teamed up as coach and assistant coach of the Bendigo Strikers 23-and-under team in its debut Victorian Netball League season.
It was a superb finish to the A-reserve preliminary final between Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst.
Both teams had met in the qualifying final which went the way of the Dragons, 45-34.
After a seven-goal loss to Gisborne in the second semi-final, Sandhurst took on the Storm which had won the first semi-final against Maryborough by 10 goals.
It had been one-all between the Dragons and Storm across the home-and-away series.
Storm surged to a 41-38 victory in Saturday’s preliminary final and will now face Gisborne in the season decider.
Gisborne dominated the B-grade preliminary final against Kangaroo Flat.
The team in red, white and blue charged to a 57-38 victory.
It will be a big day of netball for Gisborne as it takes on Sandhurst in the grand final.
The Dragons have qualified for three grand finals.
Sandhurst marked a 51-32 victory against Strathfieldsaye in the B-reserve preliminary final.
First-up on Saturday were the 17-and-under teams from Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye.
It was the Bulldogs who controlled a lot of the contest to score a 56-37 victory against Storm’s rising stars.
Five clubs will be represented across grand final day.
Gisborne will be vying for premiership glory in four grades.
The Sandhurst Dragons will have three teams in action.
Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat and Strathfieldsaye Storm all have one team which has reached that one day in September.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval, View Street:
17-and-under at 9am: Sandhurst v Golden Square.
B-reserve at 10.30am: Gisborne v Sandhurst.
B-grade at 12.00pm: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
A-reserve at 1.30pm: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.
A-grade at 3.00pm: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat
