Stawell Warriors fought back to defeat Warrack Eagles in the A Grade first semi-final at Dimboola on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Warriors trailed at every break before finally leading 44-43 at the only time that ultimately mattered.
Stawell coach Toni Stewart could not put her finger on how her side came away with the win.
“Warrack probably feel like they should have won,” she said.
“We just weren’t playing anything like we wanted to at all.
“We managed to stay with them and then steal it at the end.”
Eagles coach Emma Koschitzke said her side played especially well through the first and third quarters.
“Zandira Malone was working very well in attack and shooting accurately,” she said,
“At the other end Kiani Stewart was good against Jemma Clarkson.”
Warrack had a six goal lead at the end of the first quarter, a one-goal lead at half-time and led by five at the final change of ends but could not hold onto win.
Stawell scored the first five goals of the last quarter to even up the contest and it was game on.
Koschitzke said the change in momentum was more a result of Stawell lifting than her side dropping away.
“We weren’t making any extra turnovers,” she said.
“Most of the turnovers were the result of umpiring calls not going our way.
“Stawell lifted its game and played really well as well as just shooting accurately.”
Stewart said Clarkson and Ebony Summers stood up when it mattered at the end of the game.
“Right at the end Jemma worked really hard for us and Ebony had been well held all day but when she needed to step up she did,” she said.
“I think a little bit of extra experience helped us keep level heads at the end.”
It is the second week in a row Stawell has managed a victory in a tight finish having beaten Dimboola in extra time in the elimination final.
The Warriors are now just one win away from a grand final.
Stawell will play Miniyip-Murtoa in the preliminary final at Ararat on Saturday.
“It’s surprising that we’ve got to this point from where we were earlier in the season,” Stewart said.
The loss signals the end of Warrack’s A Grade premiership defence.
“We’ve been really happy with the season to finish third,” Koschitzke said.
“We’re coming off the back of a premiership but we lost five players from that side so we did well.
“I’ve really enjoyed the season.”
Wimmera Netball Association First semi-final results:
A Grade
Warrack Eagles 16, 26, 39, 43 (43)
Stawell 10, 25, 34, 44 (44)
GOALS
Warrack Eagles:
E Bibby 28 Z Malone 15
Stawell:
E Summers 27 J Clarkson 17
BEST
Warrack Eagles:
Z Malone K Stewart
Stawell:
M Jelly J Clarkson
-------------------------
B Grade:
Warrack Eagles 7, 18, 24, 32 (32)
Minyip Murtoa 11, 22, 31, 43 (43)
GOALS
Warrack Eagles:
M Pryor 17 E Baxter 15
Minyip Murtoa:
E Huff 33 T Kerrins 10
BEST
Warrack Eagles:
J Schulz M Pryor
Minyip Murtoa:
E Huff A Knight
-------------------------
C Grade:
Stawell 10, 27, 40, 50 (50)
Warrack Eagles 11, 16, 23, 34 (34)
GOALS
Stawell:
E Dwyer 33 D Jelly 17
Warrack Eagles:
C Taylor 23 B Munro 11
BEST
Stawell:
D Jelly J Orr
Warrack Eagles:
C Taylor E Preston
-------------------------
17 & Under:
Horsham Saints 12, 19, 30, 43 (43)
Ararat 10, 20, 29, 39 (39)
GOALS
Horsham Saints:
S Mcdonald 24 J Mcdonald 19 Ararat:
T Borrelli 22 L Sewell 17
BEST
Horsham Saints:
S Davis G Mcintyre Ararat:
M Scott E Carlyle
BEST
Horsham:
G Hiscock K Pope Dimboola:
R Kuhne C Lee
-------------------------
15 & Under A:
Stawell 11, 19, 31, 42 (42)
Dimboola 7, 13, 20, 29 (29)
GOALS
Stawell:
D Cosson 22 E Marrow 20
Dimboola:
J Wolthuis 21 O Revell 8
BEST
Stawell:
J Clugston D Cosson
Dimboola:
R Redford J Wolthuis
-------------------------
15 & Under B:
Horsham Saints 10, 19, 22, 28 (28)
Horsham 12, 19, 28, 36 (36)
GOALS
Horsham Saints:
P Okely 17 M Rethus 11 Horsham:
I Geue 15 T Jones 11 J Ellis 10
BEST
Horsham Saints:
L Olver L Schmidt
Horsham:
T Robertson T Jones
-------------------------
13 & Under:
Ararat 6, 11, 16, 23 (23)
Warrack Eagles 9, 15, 21, 24 (24)
GOALS
Ararat:
J Bligh 13 G Dunmore 10
Warrack Eagles:
M Stewart 21 B Hallam 3
BEST
Ararat:
A Felini J Bligh
Warrack Eagles:
L Eldridge B Hallam