Sport
8 September, 2024
Saints stage fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Demons | WFNL finals
The Saints overcame a four-goal deficit in the last term.
WFNL Finals
Netball
The Horsham Saints have come from four goals down deep into the fourth quarter to defeat Horsham 62-61 and secure another WFNL A Grade grand final berth.
Saints coach Jess Cannane credited the fight back to returning its brand of netball late in the contest.
I don't think we'd probably played our game and our brand of netball for the first three quarters," Cannane said post-match.
"We spoke heavily [at three-quarter time] about making sure that we [A] keep our heads but actually go back to our game."
Cannane put that down to the fatigue that crept in.
"You've got to be completely switched on for the whole 60 minutes when you play Horsham; there's no easy pass, there's no rest," she said.
The margin early in the last term proved to be a positive, according to Cannane.
"It almost released us just to go back and play our own game," she said.
"The girls started to go [and] hunt the ball and turn it over in defence and then showed lots of composure down in the attacking end, which got the scoreboard a little bit closer.
"Eventually, we're able to go over the top and make sure that we turn the ball over again in defence to stop them going back onto the centre pass."
The Saints started the quickest with three of the first four goals.
However, Horsham responded quickly as it got back on level terms.
The Demons led by two goals at quarter time.
The two-goal margin was quickly erased early in the second term as the Saints started strongly again.
Both sides moved the ball from end to end throughout the term, as both sides could not be split at half-time.
Horsham forced turnovers in its attacking third as it re-established a two-goal lead early in the third term.
An advantage that was three goals at the last change.
In an attempt to swing the momentum, the Saints moved Holly Phillips into the defensive goal ring and Maddison Bethune to a wing.
A change that was reversed soon after.
After the lead hovered around four goals, the Saints drew level late in the fourth quarter.
A late goal allowed the Saints to maintain possession and claim the one-goal win.
Jorja Clode shot 40 goals from 57 attempts for the Saints.
Imogen Worthy added 36 from 40 shots for Horsham.
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