Six the best for Eagles

NEWTOWN & Chilwell has its local netball dynasty, claiming a sixth consecutive GFL premiership after defeating St Albans 60-45 in Saturday’s grand final.

“It’s probably the best, if not one of the best wins from the period. The target on our back is the biggest it’s ever been,” coach Jason Woolley said.

The Eagles set the tone early, scoring the first two goals to establish a fast start and motor away to a six-goal lead at quarter-time.

“We converted from our first centre pass and then converted from theirs, which really set the tone of the game,” Woolley said.

The reigning premier knew

K. Knott 45, J.Woolley 15. Sivalingam 42, M Gray 3. A Wirth. submitted T. K Knott, S Wolff, not it would have to put a majority of the defensive work in before the ball hit St Albans’ goal circle, with Supersaints’ 208cmpowerhouse Tharjini Sivalingam providing next-to-no opportunity for rebounds.

Sivalingam, the world’s tallest netballer, shot her 42 goals at 94 per cent accuracy to amass all bar three goals of the Supersaints’ score.

“There’s really not much you can do once it hits the circle edge, so we had to put a lot of work in throughout the midcourt,” Woolley said.

“We tried to treat it the same as a couple of weeks ago when Jane Cook was in the ring for them.

“We probably didn’t get the big flashy turnovers we’re used to but we just kept working and they did come.”

Despite Sivalingam’s performance, it was Eagles goaler Kathleen Knott who did more damage on the scoreboard, shooting 45 goals in a best-oncourt performance.

The enormity of the performance took on even greater significance when Knott told teammates post-match she was pregnant.

“She got the group together after the game and told us all she’d been playing pregnant. It was just a really exciting and happy way to top off the day,” Woolley said.

The Eagles have not lost a game since 2012, and with Woolley confirming he will coach next year, the club appears destined to build on its 118-game winning streak.

“I’ll go around again. We’ll sit down over the next couple of weeks but I’m confident the bulk of the team will remain the same as well,” he said.

IT’S OURS: Newtown and Chilwell players celebrate their sixth consecutive win as GFL netball champions.

Pictures: MARK WILSON DOUBLE JOY: Natalie Tommasini, Holly-Anne Hood, Kathleen Knott and Amy Wirth post-game after Knott announces she is four months’ pregnant.