First-quarter surge powers AYC into decider

AYC booked its spot in the Premier League netball grand final with a 40-32 win over Cripps Waratah.

AYC set up the win in the first quarter with defensive pressure forcing Cripps into early errors for an 11-6 lead. Cripps battled hard in the second closing the gap and AYC held a 17-14 lead at halftime.

The third quarter was all AYC as its defensive end of Natalie Downton, Natalie Smedley and Chloe Bennett limited Cripps to just five goals.

The nine-goal lead proved too much for Cripps and they will meet Kingston Blues next week.

Kingston fought out a thriller against St LukesHealth Karana, snatching a 37-36 victory in the dying minutes of the match.

The in-form Kingston side overcame a slow start, and continued to chip away at the more experienced St LukesHealth side. St LukesHealth dominated the first quarter through excellent defensive work from Allison Lowe, Genneveve Sullivan and Krystal Halloran as they restricted Kingston’s scoring to take an 11-5 lead.

Kingston was able to steady in the second with Lindy Aplin controlling the centre and Karen MacLean finishing well for Kingston. St LukesHealth held an 18-17 halftime lead. Kingston’s defence end, led by Emily Handley and Jennifer Hanlon, was relentless in the second half as it shut down the space and drive of St LukesHealth’s front end with scores locked at 27-27 heading into the last.

Several Sullivan intercepts went unrewarded for St LukesHealth and it was unable to extend its lead past two.

Uncharacteristic misses and forced passes due to the pressure created from Kingston’s defence end kept Kingston in the match and with the chance to take the lead late Kingston pounced and never gave it back. — RENEE GODFREY