Netball’s clash of titans
CROSS-TOWN rivals Northern Hawks and Cavaliers will be fighting for netball glory when they meet in tomorrow’s State League grand final at the Silverdome at 3:30pm.
The duo have been the frontrunners of the competition for the past four years.
This clash will be their fourth grand final appearance in a row.
Hawks took the honours in 2018, with Cavaliers tasting glory in 2019 while Hawks were undefeated for all of 2020.
In fact their loss to Cavaliers two weeks ago was the side’s first since their 2019 grand final defeat.
Both sides have talent to burn and a post-up shooters in Ashlea Mawer for Hawks and Hayley McDougall, who score the majority of their team’s goals with minimal misses.
Both teams will be desperate to not just limit the impact of these star shooters but cut down the supply to them.
Cavaliers play a physical, contesting style of netball.
However, they will need to ensure they reduce their penalty count, keeping their defenders in play to increase their impact.
They have plenty of players through the midcourt such as Hannah Lenthall and Shelby Miller who have the ability to turn over plenty of ball.
With Miller also a key playmaker in the front end, they will need to look after the ball.
Northern Hawks sisters Tessa and Lydia Cootes have been ball winners all season and with Issy Maskell proving to be quite a handy defender, they will be looking to transition turnovers through the likes of unassuming centre general Stephanie Walker.
Northern Hawks coach Kellie Woolnough said the team was really looking forward to the match.
“We’ve spent the week with great positive vibes and really honing in our club culture and supporting each other, with the players really excited,” Woolnough said.
“The girls see it as such a privilege to have the opportunity to be playing in a grand final and no matter what, I’m so proud of what we’ve put out on court this year.
“These girls are amazing people and wonderful role models for our community, especially our junior netballers.”
In the under-19s grand final, Cripps Waratah will play Devon at 1pm.