By David Nagel
Inverloch-Kongwak is just 60 minutes away from potentially becoming three-time consecutive champions of West Gippsland A Grade netball after the Sea Eagles staved off the plucky challenge of Dalyston in Saturday’s second semi-final at Nar Nar Goon.
The Sea Eagles fell behind early as goalers Amy Scott and Ella Sadler struggled with a very strong breeze that blew diagonally across the court.
The Dalyston strike-force of Bella Schmidt and Jarney Thomas adjusted better in the opening minutes of the game; having the first two goals on the board before Scott struck first for the Eagles after almost four minutes.
With Ruby Brosnan, Britt Thomas and Mataya Maloney having an impact through the midcourt, the Magpies kicked out to a 7-4 lead midway through the opening quarter.
The Sea Eagles then showed their championship qualities, reversing momentum to take a stranglehold on the match.
The dynamic midcourt of Kelsey Buxton, Lanni Pryor and Kate French began to control possession, leading to a 6-2 finish to the opening term and a 10-9 lead to Inverloch.
That trend continued at the start of the second period of play, with the Sea Eagles scoring six of the first seven goals to open up a 16-10 advantage.
Overall, either side of quarter time, the Sea Eagles had scored 12-3 to take total control of the contest.
Scott and Sadler initially took time, but adjusted brilliantly to the tricky conditions, while defenders Renee Pilkington and Amity McInnes were proving a stumbling block in defence.
The Magpies had their own brilliant bursts at times, but the margin would never get closer than three; but extended to a game-high nine goals midway through the third.
The Magpies were brave, particularly Gemma Thomas and Olivia Bramley in defence, but the Sea Eagles just had all the right answers at precisely the right moments in time.
They now have two weeks to contemplate a historic premiership three-peat, with the sensational six of Kelly Boyd, Kelsey Buxton, Renee Pilkington, Lanni Pryor, Ella Sadler and Amy Scott looking to become three-time holders of the cup.
Their opponents…well that will be decided this Saturday when Dalyston looks to bounce back against Nar Nar Goon, who scored a 41-29 victory over Cora Lynn in Sunday’s first semi-final at the Cobradome.
Slippery conditions greeted both sides, but it was Cora Lynn that showed greater composure early; capitalising on a huge turnover count from the Goon.
The pressure from both teams was electric, with Danielle Cameron and Annabel Sheppard pouncing on any loose passes from the Goon, while the sharp-shooting of Brooke Abu-Jaber saw the Cobras kick out to a 3-0 lead in the early stages of the contest.
But the Goon soon settled, with the wise heads of Meaghan Winter, Chantelle Dale, Olivia Hamilton and Taylah Boatwood regaining momentum; leading to a 6-5 lead at quarter time.
Both teams really struggled to get the ball moving fluently from one end of the court to the other, with the wet conditions and elite pressure turning the game into a grind.
The rain and wind intensified even further in the second quarter; but couldn’t stop the Goon from putting their stamp on the scoreboard.
Kyra Esler and Darcy Utber began to find their range; the Goon leading by six goals at half time after an 11-6 second term.
The margin blew out to 10 goals, midway through the third quarter as Winter, Hamilton and Karly Meinecke began to control the battle of the midcourt.
The Goon was never in danger of defeat in the second half; scoring 13-9 in the final quarter to race away with victory.
Nar Nar Goon will know what to expect in the preliminary final against Dalyston, having taken the same route last year to the penultimate day of the season.
Last year they defeated Kooweerup and Dalyston, before falling to Tooradin-Dalmore in the prelim, and the girls in navy blue will be extra keen to go one step further in 2024.
As for Cora Lynn, well what a fantastic effort it has been to win a final in its first visit to the WGFNC post-season.
It’s worth remembering the Cobras finished tenth in 2023, with a 3-15 record, so just to play finals was a premiership achievement in itself.
The Cobras can now rest their aching legs…and look to improve even further in the 2025 season.
But the premiership race is now down to three; Inverloch-Kongwak, to be challenged by Dalyston or Nar Nar Goon.
