Mixed emotions: Jasmine Reid and Rhiannon Hilton respond very differently to a Kyabram goal in the opening quarter of Sunday’s elimination semi-final at Tatura. The Bombers under-17 netball team started slowly and never recovered against Mooroopna.
A handful of first-quarter turnovers returned to haunt Kyabram’s under-17 netball team as its Goulburn Valley League season ended at the hand of top team Mooroopna on Sunday at Tatura.
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Mooroopna lost only one home-and-away game this year, but in last week’s qualifying final was forced into the elimination bout with Kyabram when it lost by eight to Shepparton.
Kyabram finished its season fourth on the ladder, behind the top-two teams and Shepparton Swans, but hopes were high on the weekend after the team beat Echuca by 14 goals in the opening weekend of the finals.
Kyabram ran Shepparton within two goals in round three this year, but in round 14 lost by 17 to the Bears combination.
Both of its games with Mooroopna this year were three-goal defeats, but the Bombers were close enough to give them hope going into the weekend.
Mooroopna’s intercepting defenders caused all sorts of headaches early in the game, resulting in a five-goal deficit at the first break that remained at half-time.
Kyabram made an early change, Abby Waasdorp moving from a wing into the centre in an attempt to free captain Isla Carver up to support goaling sensation Natasha Dodos.
The athletic Waasdorp has shared responsibility for controlling the ball in the centre with Carver, who has regularly played the second half of games in the goaling circle.
While Dodos will be the favourite to win the club’s best and faierst award, with her amazing goaling feats this season, Waasdorp will not be too far behind as she continues the celebrated family’s list of sporting achievements in the region.
Ava Pell, captain of the club’s under-15 team, was also brought on to the court in the second term and the result was a 12-all scoreline.
Fourteen goals from Mooroopna goaler Mya Jespherson allowed the Cats a six-goal three-quarte-time lead as Jemae Miller moved into defence for a quarter to give Stella Trezise and Charli Westerveld support.
Taytem Messenger and Grace Burnett also spent most of their game in defence, while Dodos did her bit to keep the team in touch with Mooroopna.
Dodos finished with 33 of her team’s 44 goals in the seven-goal defeat.
Shepparton, which won through the qualifying semi final against Shepparton Swans (53-35), will now play either the Swans or Mooroopna in the grand final.
Miss Fix-it: Abby Waasdorp has been the go-to player for the under-17 team when captain Isla Carver is required to provide goaling support to Natasha Dodos in attack. Waasdorp was again strong through the match, starting at wing before moving into the centre.
– Echuca has come from third on the A-grade ladder to create a sensation by winning its way into the grand final, beating sixth ranked Shepparton in an elimination final and then scoring an eight shot win against Mooroopna.
A week earlier Mooroopna had created a sensation by beating ladder leader Euroa by six goals in the qualifying final.
Euroa and Moroopna, who many thought would be grand finalists, will now play in the preliminary final.
• Echuca has done the same in B-grade, making it 18 wins and one defeat for the season by earning a grand final spot after a two-goal win against Seymour a week ago.
Seymour an Shepparton will play in the preliminary final at Deakin Reserve on Sunday.
• A third Echuca team, its B-reserve unit, has the chance to play in a grand final if it can beat Mooroopna on Saturday.
Awaiting the winner in the grand final is Shepparton Swans, which has also come from third on the ladder to win a spot in the September 24 final.
• Third-ranked Mooroopna has one hand on the trophy in the under-15 competition, having watched on as previously unbeaten Shepparton lost the first week of the finals to Echuca.
Mooroopna beat Echuca by give goals a week later and the preliminary final will now be between the Murray Bombers and Bears.
