A year after the heartbreak of a last-quarter collapse, Bacchus Marsh has a netball premiership to celebrate.
The Cobras exacted revenge on Redan in the C-grade decider at Eastern Oval on Saturday, winning 30-23 after running away with the game in the final quarter and making amends for a 28-27 defeat at the hands of the Lions a year earlier.
Redan led through the early stages by slim margins and held the advantage until three-quarter time when it was up 22-21.
But Bacchus Marsh, spearheaded by Bernie Walsh (24 goals) and foil Karen Pawlowicz, swept to victory with superior shooting in the last quarter.
Redan led 21-19 late in the third quarter, but Bacchus Marsh gained momentum by scoring the last two goals before the whistle.
Walsh then netted twice early in the fourth to put the Cobras in front.
Redan started to throw bad passes and took desperate shots to chase the game.
Pawlowicz netted two key goals in a row to make it 26-22 the Cobras’ way.
An injury time-out failed to break the momentum, with Walsh grabbing the next two goals to make the margin six.
With time running down, some players even started to tear-up on the court, so overcome with emotion were they.
The tears really flowed at the full-time whistle as players from all grades of Bacchus Marsh netball ran to the court to celebrate with the victorious C-grade team.
Coach Frank Pawlowicz delivered a proud victory speech to acknowledge Bacchus Marsh’s first netball premiership since 1996.
Cobras centre Lauren Prout was best on court, while captain Sarah McGuigan was especially proud of her teammates.
“After our loss in last year’s grand final it hurt a lot to lose the way we did, and by only a goal,” McGuigan said. “We finished fourth on the ladder and really had to earn our spot in the grand final this year.
“As a team, we could not be happier – we’ve all worked hard to win this cup.
“Whether it’s A, B, C or our under-18 girls, we’re one club.
“You just have to look at the support here today; that proves it. It’s such an honour to wear the dress. We learned a lot from last year, and with four minutes to go this year it was a similar situation.
“Full credit to our shooters for being able to hold their nerve and see the game through.”
The premiership was a drought-breaker for the Melton-Moorabool region – its first premier team in any grade of Ballarat league football or netball since 2005.
