BIG FINISH FOR TIGES

Bannockburn causes upset

BANNOCKBURN broke through for its first GDFNL A Grade netball premiership with a come-from-behind 39-35 win over Thomson yesterday.

The country Tigers struggled to deal with pressure Thomson applied early, as Calsey Wolak and Sarah-Jane Ross controlled the ball through the mid-court.

But the game took a significant turn midway through the second term when Thomson star Errin Lang went down with a match-ending ankle injury, causing a reshuffle in attack.

Teenager Cheyenne Philpott came into the goal shooter’s role, while Emma Witham took Lang’s goal attack bib.

Philpott was immediately on target and the change seemed to have no effect on the game, with Thomson going into half-time with a six-goal break.

The Bannockburn bench made what turned out to be a match-winning move at halftime, shifting Alana Nicol to wing attack and putting Abbie Avery into the centre.

Avery was able to lock down on Ross and teamed with wing defence Celeste De Munari to create turnovers, causing Thomson to lose some much-needed drive through centre court.

Nicol and goal attack Georgia Duncan took advantage of the cleaner ball and scoring opportunities opened up.

Duncan and Sarah Fisher were as thick as thieves under the ring and Bannockburn clawed its way back to within a goal by three-quarter time.

Thomson moved Shannyn Leach into attack at the start of the last quarter to try to drag itself back in control, but Bannockburn’s confidence had lifted across the court.

Erin Dillon and Leigh Potter held firm in defence for Bannockburn and Thomson was denied the smooth entry into the scoring ring it had enjoyed in the first half.

Fisher, appearing in her 10th local A-grade netball grand final, called on all her experience to nail some clutch shots, dropping in 14 secondhalf goals in what was her best game of the season.

“We really lost control of the game through mid-court after halftime” a disappointed Leach said after the game.

“The switch of Nicol and Avery worked well for them and we just couldn’t win enough clean ball.

“Turnovers were really costly as well, and once we lost momentum we just couldn’t get it back.

“Losing Errin (Lang) didn’t help, but I was so happy with Cheyenne’s (Philpott) performance under that pressure.”

Potter was delighted with her team and was thrilled for the club.

“That is the first A Grade flag for our club and I couldn’t be more proud of this group to fight back like they did,” she said.

“We certainly won out with the switch of players at halftime, with both girls making a big impact to the change in momentum.”

De Munari was awarded the player of the match medal, but many of her teammates could have also worn it with distinction.