Netball
9 September, 2024
Panthers through to first grand final since 1986
Overtime was needed to separate Rupanyup and Noradjuha Quantong, with Rupanyup prevailing by seven goals at Natimuk Showgrounds in the Horsham District Football Netball League a-grade netball preliminary final to book their first grand final appearance since 1986.
The first quarter was tight, with the Bombers starting better to record an early two-goal lead before the Panthers leveled the scores around the ten-minute mark.
The Bombers started to get on top, capitalising on turnovers to take a four-goal lead into quarter-time.
The Panthers fought hard, but the Bombers, with Holly Nuske, providing plenty of drive through the centre, fought hard to hold a five-goal lead for most of the quarter before leading by four at half-time.
The Panthers rallied hard in the third to bring the lead back to one goal, but the Bombers kept scoring until the Panthers scored the last three to take a one-goal lead into the last break.
The lead was topsy-turvy in the last quarter, with Rupanyup moving two clear points before the Bombers responded to retake the lead by a goal. It was goal-for-goal, and the score was 39 apiece, with less than a minute to go.
Shannon Couch scored truly with approximately 30 seconds left to give the Bombers the lead. The Panthers got the ball down to the other end, and Zanaiya Bergen managed to score a goal on the siren to level the scores and bring the game to overtime.
With overtime being two seven-minute quarters, both teams were eager to get out there. The Panthers started fast, taking a four-goal lead in the first half of the quarter before leading by six goals at the end of the first overtime period.
The Bombers tried to rally in the second period, but the Panthers were too strong, winning 51-44.
Zanaiya Bergen scored 41 goals for the Panthers, and Anna Sudholz and Lucy Bussenschutt were among the best on the court.
Shannon Couch scored 34 for the Bombers, with Brooke Pay and Jayne Tucker outstanding in defence and attack, respectively.
Panthers coach Jedda Heard said it was a tough win, and the pressure they applied got them over the line.
"At three-quarter time, I told the girls that we just need to keep our heads and our pressure up," Heard said.
"If you apply enough pressure, things will happen, and we did that well down the court in the fourth.
"Whether or not they got tired or it rattled them a bit, it all slipped into place for us, and we were able to take it into overtime, and then we pushed away."
"I thought we were the better team, and it was just about waiting for the opportunity to strike, and we did that, and we did what we needed to do and kept pushing the ball forward, applying pressure, and it paid off."
For the Bombers, coach Fiona Rowe said she was proud of the girls and that they would return bigger and better in 2025.