Tara Murray
It was grand final heartbreak for Darley in the Ballarat Netball League grand final for a second straight year.
The Devils faced North Ballarat for a second straight year in the decider, with the two teams clearly the best sides all season.
Held in perfect conditions, unlike 12 months earlier, the grand final turned into a thriller with both sides having their chances to come away with the win.
The Devils led by two goals for much of the final quarter before North Ballarat capitalised on a couple of Darley turnovers.
The Roosters hit the front with one and half minutes left on the clock.
They would score the next two to take the lead out to three. The Devils scored on late just before the siren.
The Roosters claimed the win, 40-38 to win their fourth straight premiership.
Devils coach Di McCormack was shattered that they had just fallen short.
“It was so close all day,” she said. “I felt like we had the momentum and and we had shut down Poppy [Douglas] and Maddy [Selmon],” she said.
“Speaking to Poppy after the game, she said we had shut them down. Our defence was brilliant.”
The Devils started the match by changing things up to try and unsettle the Roosters.
Competition leading goal scorer Rebecca Hicks started at goal attack instead of goal shooter, with Monique Nagle back at goal shooter.
McCormack said they wanted to try and stop the Roosters from double teaming Hicks.
“We looked at some of the things we had worked on during the week,” she said.
“We scored the first five goals of the game and it paid off. We tried some things and and it worked to a-plan.”
McCormack would then inject Olivia Cawthray into the circle, giving the Roosters something they hadn’t seen before.
Cawthray hit some long shots and finished with 22 goals for the game, while Hicks finished with 16 goals.
Through much of the match not much separated the two teams and it could have easily gone either way. Scores were locked at 29-apiece at the final change.
The defining momentum came in one and half minutes into the final quarter when Devils defender Matilda Elliot went down with a serious ankle injury.
McCormack said that changed the game for them.
“Our defence was brilliant,” she said. “Losing Tilly hurt us.
“Her ankle blew up and we took her to hospital as we thought it was broken. Shannon [Blackman] was great in the circle and was all day, but it changed things.
“Tilly and Grave were awesome. Grace was having her best game.”
Elliott returned to the club on Saturday night on crutches.
McCormack said in the end, a couple of stupid mistakes trying to get the ball into their attacking circle proved the difference.
Selmon was named best on court.
McCormack said the two clubs were starting to develop a really good rivalry and there was a lot of respect between the sides.
It was a mixed day for the Devils, which had four netball teams in grand finals.
The B-grade side lost to North Ballarat, 53-50. McCormack said it was a game that they shouldn’t lost.
The C-grade side beat Lake Wendouree, 30-26. McCormack said out of the four, it was the one they were least confident about.
“Renee [Hulls] worked really hard with that group all year.
“It was good to get the win with a team with a lot of kids.
“Addy Wright has just turned 16 and is a star.”
The under-19s went through the season undefeated, beating North Ballarat 37-31.
Having played in last year’s grand final, the Devils have been sensational all year with McCormack said the premiership was well deserved.
Lucy Taylor was named best on court.
