Tara Murray
It wasn’t pretty but Darley was able to come away with the win and lock in a double chance in the Ballarat Netball League finals.
In windy conditions at Darley Park on Saturday, the Devils were able to overcome Redan, 29-27 in an elimination final.
The Devils led by six goals at three quarter time before the Lions came late to try and get the win.
Devils coach Di McCormack said it wasn’t a great day for netball.
“The chairs were blowing everywhere and there were balls going not where they were meant to,” she said.
“It wasn’t a pretty win, but a win is a win. I thought we had enough control and things were going OK, but we lost momentum.
“I thought Redan played really well and they had nothing to lose.”
A lot of McCormack’s game plan went out the window when goaler Ella Closter went off injured.
McCormack said the young star sliced through her hand on the base of the goal post.
She was to have surgery on Monday.
“It was a freak accident,” McCormack said. “She played that morning and there’s been 1000s of players on that court and it’s never happened before.
“Thank god it’s her left hand.”
With that the Devils had to throw things around including midcourter Ailish McCormack spending some time in goals.
McCormack said defensively she was happy with how they played. She said there were a few mistakes in the attack end, but that wasn’t helped by the wind picking the ball up.
Olivia Cawthray shot 27 goals for the Devils in the win.
McCormack was full of praise for Redan shooter Ruby Parry.
“She was brilliant,” she said. “At goal attack she was so dominant and when she was in goal shooter she was controlling the circle.”
The Devils now have two shots at making the grand final if needed.
The first is on Saturday against the Sunbury Lions. It’s 1-1 this season between the two teams, who have a bit of a rivalry.
McCormack said it would be a good game between the sides.
North Ballarat will face Lake Wendouree in the knockout semi final.
The Devils B-grade side won an elimination final on Saturday and will play in a knockout semi final, while their under-19s will play Melton South for a spot in the grand final.
Meanwhile, Melton South’s A-grade season is over.
It was a tough day for the Panthers, who had just six players for the final, including one player that had predominantly played B-grade.
Lake Wendouree made the most of that, coming away with a big 74-26 win.
Ashlee Bertocci shot 11 goals for the Panthers.
