RUNAWAYS AIM FOR MAGIC COMEBACK
Runaways captain Courtney Marty and Saints co-captain Rachel Mullane are ready for battle.
THE end of a seven-year wait was celebrated with a thrilling one-goal win, but now Runaways skipper Courtney Marty has called on her team to maintain that composure tonight.
With a spot in the Townsville Premier League netball grand final on the line, Marty and her side will face the minor premiers, Saints, for the right to take on Burdekin.
Only one goal separated Runaways from Highlanders last week, and it was the
same case for Saints in their semi-final loss.
While Marty admits there are plenty of nerves in the team — only three players have previously tasted finals success — they had faith in their abilities to complete the magic comeback.
“I think we’re coming in pretty anxious, we’re full of a lot of young girls and a lot of us haven’t had experience in the finals at all,” she said.
“Our goal from the beginning was to make top four so the fact we’ve come this far is really good for us.
“I think we held our
composure really well, so coming against a team like Saints that will be a strong key.”
For Saints captain Rachel Mullane and her team, the long-time Townsville powerhouses know what it takes to claim finals glory.
However she admits the pressure is firmly on their shoulders to be the ones who make it to the big dance.
Saints have been a dominant force for years in the competition, and once again finished the regular season atop the table.
Yet Mullane knows they
will need to juggle the weight of expectation, and expects Runaways to adopt a dangerous nothing to lose mentality.
“I guess it’s make or break,” she said.
“I don’t think all year we’ve had our full team – so we’ve had a few injuries. We’re working through that, but our club and team culture is amazing. No matter who gets out on court they will get the job done.
“Across the whole court we’re there to play for each other, no matter what we’re fighting for each other.”