Finals berth leaves Rockbank ‘absolutely stoked’

Rockbank’s Aleisha Tainui. (Damian Visentini)

By Tara Murray

Rockbank will play A-grade finals for the first time in the Riddell District Netball League.

The Rams, who have long been one of the lesser sides in the competition, sealed a finals berth on Saturday with one round remaining.

The Rams got the job done with a solid win against Woodend-Hesket.

Having lost to the Hawks last time round, the Rams were intent on making sure there would be no repeat.

They built their lead through every quarter, eventually winning 55-44.

Rebecca Hicks shot 30 goals from 38 attempts, while Isabella Maguire came on at half-time and shot 18 goals at 100 per cent.

Rams co-captain Rianne Vining said they knew they should have beaten Woodend-Hesket last time they played.

“To come away with the win this time was great but the feeling was that bit better because it secured our spots in finals,” she said.
“I think we have been playing four quarters solid for most of the year, so going by last week’s second half against Woodend wasn’t anything for us to be concerned about.”
Vining said it was exciting for the side and club to be playing A-grade finals for the first time. She said while they know finals are a different ball game, they think they have a good chance.
“We are just so excited to be playing finals for us but especially for the club.  To see where Rockbank was to where they are now is just amazing to see and to be apart of.
“We know that we are a chance at taking it to every team.  When we played Macedon and Rupo we were with them for the whole game, even being a draw at one stage with Macedon.
“We know finals are a completely different game and we are just taking it one game at a time and regardless of what happens we are are so proud of what we have achieved this year.

Rams’ spokesman Gavin Sporle said the club couldn’t be happier for the side, which it believed could have an impact come finals time.

“We are absolutely stoked,” he said. “The under-19s look like they will be playing finals for a second year and the C-grade side are still a chance.

“We’re rapt … it’s a success for the club to hopefully have three sides in finals.”

The C-grade side sits a game outside the top six, with sixth-placed Lancefield to play the top side and the Rams facing the bottom side, the Sunbury Kangaroos.

The Rams’ under-19 team sits in fifth.

The quest to play A-grade finals hasn’t been a smooth one, with the club parting ways with coach Lizzy Masterson last week.

Sporle said a difference of opinion had come to a head and in the end the decision was made to go their separate ways.

He said the club accepted Masterson’s resignation on Thursday night.

“At the end of the day, it was a really tough situation,” he said.

“Lizzy has done an absolutely superb job over the last two years. I’m really disappointed it ended the way it did.”

Co-captains Mary Brodie and Vining will coach the side for the rest of the season.

Diggers Rest added another win to its tally, but it wasn’t enough to keep it in finals contention.

The Burras were never in any trouble against Broadford, leading by 10 goals at quarter-time.

They won every quarter on the way to a 49-27 victory.

Melton Centrals’ tough season continued with a big loss to Rupertswood.

After an even first quarter, Rupertswood turned the game in its favour by hitting 11 second-quarter goals to Centrals’ four.

The finals-bound Sharks extended the lead in the second half to secure a 46-25 win.

Rebecca Morabito was named Centrals’ best.

In other results, Macedon remains undefeated after a 44-43 thriller against Wallan and Romsey beat Riddell 53-50.