By Marcus Uhe
A 10-goal win over Wandin secured Narre Warren the Outer East Football Netball League A-Grade premiership for 2023, washing away any lingering heartbreak from the previous year.
On a special day for the club, in which it secured championships in the four senior grades, under 15 blue and under 17 blue competitions, Erin Bell’s side ensured the main prize would make its way back to Kalora Park with the 54-44 win in bright sunshine at Officer.
A first quarter of momentum swings, in which both sides managed five-goal scoring streaks, appropriately finished deadlocked on 14 goals.
A battle of left-handed dominant scorers was quickly developing at either end of the court between the most prolific scorer in the competition, Wandin’s Emmalia Blake, and last week’s hero for Narre Warren, Clare Vearing.
Blake had too much height for Narre Warren Goal Keeper Anaisis Tupulailei, forcing Bell to move Gabrielle Dwyer to guard her instead, quickly paying dividends with a number of key deflections and interceptions to the signature Wandin high-ball to Blake at the post.
Nerves began to creep in from both teams in the second term, each looking for an opening on their pesky opponents.
The first seven goals went end-to-end before Narre Warren secured a critical break late in the term.
Like she had last week, Chelsea Tonna made way for Jemma Osborne at Goal Attack and made an immediate impact, while Blake’s trademark deadly accuracy at the other end was beginning to waver.
The Magpies led by four goals at the long break, but having given-up a six-goal lead at half time in the semi final against the Bulldogs two weeks ago, they knew the job was far from over.
A frustrated Blake was consoled by Wandin captain Maddy George at the half, who was doing everything she could at the other end of the court to launch the drive her side needed as the quarter ticked away.
Bell rung the changes at half time, keen to keep her squad of 10 fresh in the Spring warmth.
Osborne, Sophie Hennessey and Taylah Jencke took to the court, but while the positions changed, Blake’s presence under the ring remained the same.
So conscious were the Magpies defenders that a number of penalties were called against them on Blake away from the ball, her goaling teammate Lauren Spinks beginning to show her frustrations with the physicality.
Scoring seven of the final 10 goals of the third quarter, Wandin and their red, blue and white ribbons were on the charge.
Blake missed a shot at the end of the quarter with just seconds remaining, but secured the rebound and scored on the second attempt, as she had at the end of every quarter to date.
Much like the semi final, they outscored their opponents in black and white to be within striking distance at the final change, trailing by one to set the scene for an epic final quarter.
Tonna and Tupulailei returned to the court for Narre Warren as they looked to close the game with their starting line-up that earned them a minor premiership.
The opening 90 seconds went goalless before Blake broke the tension with the first of the quarter to tie the scores.
Narre Warren answered the call, before Wandin edged-ahead with a one goal lead, thanks to a courageous play from George in the defensive half that saw her collide with a Magpie opponent.
But with the scores tied at 43, the Magpies put their foot down.
The next nine goals of the game were scored by the minor premiers in a dominant eight minutes of netball that all-but engraved their names on the premiership trophy.
Their shooters, led by Vearing, nailed every shot down the stretch, while Dwyer’s long arms and leap made life difficult for Blake at the other end of the court.
With the black and white army leading chants of “Narre Narre, yeah Narre Narre,” the raucous fans turned the court into a hostile nest of black and white dominance.
Dwyer’s performance in defence for Narre Warren earned her best-on-court honours as the Magpies returned the throne of A-Grade netball.
