It was a nervous few minutes for the Diggers Rest A-grade netball team after their match with Rupertswood in the Riddell District Netball League on Saturday.
The Burras entered the final round believing they needed a win against second-placed Rupo to make finals but had to settle for a 42-42 draw.
PICTURE GALLERY: Diggers Rest v Sunbury
It was a result most people hadn’t thought about and it resulted in players phoning people at the Romsey v Macedon game, desperate to find out that result. Romsey beat the Cats 50-37, allowing the Burras into the last finals spot.
After their performance against Rupo, and Melton Centrals the week before, the Burras are suddenly the dark horse of the competition.
Burras coach Mel Lofts said they went out in the opening part of the game determined to put pressure on Rupo. And they did just that, shocking everyone as they went to an 11-goal lead in the second quarter.
“Credit to the girls,” Lofts said. “The best chance of making finals was by winning
the game.
“It would have been good for it to come a little earlier in the season but, credit to the girls, they have put their hearts into it.”
Lofts said she was hoping the team could hold onto the lead at three-quarter time after already holding off one Rupo challenge.
“I said at three-quarter time to hold on to the centre passes and they did that, they wanted to win the game,” she said.
“Our girls can’t be underestimated, they play really well as a team.”
Rupo coach Di McCormack said she thought her team, coming off the bye, didn’t respect their opposition.
“They came thinking that it should be an easy game and they should win it,” she said. “I think Diggers Rest could win a final.”
McCormack said the youth in her team struggled early on and that was the difference in the end.
“We brought on Peta Probert, who was our captain last year but has been playing B-grade this year, and she helped settle the girls,” she said.
“I’m proud we could pull the margin back and we never stopped. Some of the younger girls struggled early but showed real leadership late in the game.”
The result means Rupo finishes second on the ladder and will play top-of-the-table Riddell in the first round of finals, while the Burras will play Melton Centrals. The other match will see Romsey take on Wallan.
