Tara Murray
Darley is hoping its third time lucky after winning through to the Ballarat Netball League grand final on Saturday.
The Devils, who have lost the last twice deciders, were hoping they would have the chance to finally break through for the premiership this year.
Standing in their way on Saturday in the preliminary final was North Ballarat, the side that beat them in the last two grand finals.
The Devils were able to do enough in the last quarter to open up a lead and it was enough as they won, 37-32 in changing conditions which included hail.
Devils coach Di McCormack said it feels great to be back in the grand final.
“I’m happy that we have got there,” she said. “We started rocky in the first quarter and we made too many mistakes.
“Credit to the girls, they normally get into their heads. They worked on our plan and they got the job done.”
McCormack made some changes early on that she thought helped settle them.
The combination of Monique Nagle and Ella Closter in goals worked well, with Nagle back in shooter instead of out the front.
Closter started shaky but stood up well later as she returned from hand surgery. She still has stitches in her hand which McCormack thought was the reason for the slow start.
The other move was to bring Prue Stanley on in wing defence.
“She was outstanding,” McCormack said. “She hasn’t played a lot of wing defence but putting her on gave us that speed.
“We knew she had the legs and she would have that patience and settle us and she did a fantastic job.”
After trailing by four at quarter time the margin was back to two at half time and scores were even at the last break.
The Devils made a couple of early errors before settling to run away with the win.
“We turned over five of their centre passes and we scored off all of ours which was the aim,” she said.
“That was the difference.”
McCormack said they were strong defensively as well with Anna Lawley and Matilda Elliot standing up.
Closter finished with 19 goals, while Olivia Cawthray finished with 14
The Devils now face the Sunbury Lions in the grand final.
The Lions beat the Devils in the semi finals in a match that could have gone either way.
“It was a game of momentum,” McCormack said of that final. “Hopefully we get the better of them like we did the first time round.
The Devils’ only other side in the grand final is their under-19s, who are going for back-to-back titles.
Like the A-grade side it will be their third straight grand final. They will face Redan, which they beat earlier in the finals.
Melton South will feature in the E-grade grand final against the Sunbury Lions.
