By David Ball
Yarra Glen D Grade started their grand final contest against Seville in pouring rain.
Despite the difficult conditions both sides handled the ball well.
It was a classic contest as the goalers were nailing all the shots and at quarter time the scores were locked at 6 – 6.
As the rain eased in the second quarter the game continued as it had in the first.
Yarra’s goal attack, Steph Gibbs was converting everything whilst Seville were fighting hard, with scores at half time tied at 12-12.
Yarra Glen would continually move out to a two goal lead only to see Seville fight back.
As the pressure increased in the third quarter, Yarra started to rush in attack, turning the ball over to allow Seville to sneak out to a one goal lead at three quarter time.
The Seville defence were locking down on Steph Gibbs and Yarra just couldn’t get the ball into her hands.
The more fancied Seville girls were able to capitalise on the turnovers in Yarra Glen’s front half and went on to win by four goals, Yarra Glen 21 to Seville 25.
Yarra Glen C Grade were also playing Seville in the grand final at Woori Yallock.
The Yarra girls started slowly, missing passes and shots at goal whilst Seville were converting everything to jump out to an early five goal lead.
Late in the quarter the Yarra girls got their game going and in a big momentum shift moved to within one goal at quarter time and took the lead early in the second.
Lauren Bull was providing great intensity as goal attack and the defenders effected a number of quality intercepts.
Seville responded and wrestled their way back on top and surged to a four goal lead at half time.
The Yarra girls didn’t handle the wet conditions whereas the Blues continued to maintain possession with clever short passes.
As Seville’s lead extended the Yarra girls seemed to rush their passes and things only got worse as Seville moved out to a nine goal lead at the last break.
With a victory out of reach, the Yarra girls were unable to mount a comeback with Seville going on to take the premiership, 36 to 22.
The Yarra Glen netballers put in a great season with all teams making the preliminary finals and D and C Grade playing off in the Grand Final.
We look forward to taking the next steps in 2025.
