Tara Murray
Darley is proud in defeat despite losing a third straight Ballarat Netball League grand final on Saturday.
The Devils were in control for much of the game but weren’t able to hold off the fast finishing Lions, who claimed the premiership, 44-41.
Devils coach Di McCornack said it was a heartbreaking loss for the side.
“We were the better team for 56 minutes of that game,” she said. “It was four minutes that stuffed us.
“I was not even angry that we lost, I was just disappointed. We thought it was a terrific game of netball and it’s a credit to both teams.
“It just hurts to have lost.”
McCormack said like in the semi final between the two teams, it was a game of moments.
She said a stepping call in the final quarter proved costly and allowed the Lions to get a bit of momentum and that was the difference in the game.
McCormack said it was a great game of netball that was worthy of a grand final.
“You couldn’t have asked for a better game of netball,” she said.
McCormack said Lions goaler Rebecca Hicks, who was named best on court, was the difference in the game. Hicks shot 15 goals from 15 attempts in the final quarter.
Hicks last season played for the Devils, making it hurt more for the Devils and McCormack.
While Hicks was named best on court, McCormack was full of praise of their own goaler, Ella Closter.
The 18-year-old shot 17 goals. She still has stitches in her hand after surgery after a freak accident in the first week of finals.
“The workrate for an 18-year-old playing against the calibre of defenders like that was outstanding,” she said.
McCormack said Ailish McCormack and Shannon Blackman both had good games in the mid court, while Matilda Elliot and Anna Lawley were strong in defence and made the Lions make changes.
McCormack said while it’s hard to have fallen short the past three years, they are proud of what they have been able to do.
“It takes 18 rounds to get there and at least three finals,” she said. “To do it again and to keep regrouping takes a lot.
“We have a group of girls that played together and worked really hard this year. We worked and did everything as a team.
“You can not fault them.”
It wasn’t all disappointment for the Devils with their under-19 team claiming back-to-back premierships, defeating Redan 30-27.
McCormack said the group had a fantastic year and deserved the premiership.
“Redan is a tough team and we lost to them once in the year,” she said. “We were down for a while before the girls settled.”
Chelsea Mason was named best on court.
McCormack said there would be a number of those players step into the open age sides full time next season which is exciting.
She said there’s still some real stars in that side like Alyssa Normington and Sophia Andreula that would be in the side again next season.
“There’s some other young girls that are coming up from juniors in the next few years, it’s exciting for Darley,” she said.
“The girls are staying and we’re bloodig them through the higher grades.”
The Devils have already started planning for next season with A-grade midcourter Shannon Blackman to join the coaching panel.
