Storming home again

Gippsland Storm Elite Development Netball Club open squad won the premier division grand final at the Waverley Netball Centre recently. Storm had four squads that made the finals. From there seven squads entered in the autumn season at Waverley, with the senior squad going all the way through to the grand final.

Storm’s senior squad finished third on the ladder before finals.

With a couple of weeks of solid team work on court, Storm seemed to refocus which helped them get through to the grand final.

During the final Tuesday evening their mid court was very strong, with fast hard drives to the ball and the attackers had a high percentage return with every entry coming in.

But it was in the defence end for Storm where the game was won.

The combination of Allie Oakenfull goal defence and Sam Hodge in goal keeper really worked a treat with them picking off passes and coming away with game high intercepts and deflections.

The team finished with a dominate win against the top side Blackwood Comets 51 to 43.

Best on court award went to goal keeper Sam Hodge.

Sam has been involved with the squad in a mentoring roll, helping develop the younger players.

She is also a former championship player for Gippsland Storm.

She still plays her Saturday netball each weekend with Ellinbank in the Ellinbank District Netball Association.

Coach Simon O’Shanassy was thrilled with the whole squad’s performance, the team coming away with a another comprehensive victory.