netball
Sale is vying to finish the season as minor premiers and champions when it meets Leongatha in Sunday’s Gippsland League A grade netball grand final.
The undefeated Magpies were pushed to a margin of just four goals by the second-placed Parrots in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.
Strong through the mid court and at the attacking end, Sale’s young side was led by Montana Holmes and Lara Dunkley.
The Magpies’ opponents were led by the experienced Kathy Reid, whose move onto Holmes at centre in the semi-final helped Leongatha peg back Sale’s early lead.
Reid is not expected to make the same mistake and should start the grand final on Holmes.
In the B grade grand final the undefeated minor premier Morwell will take on second-placed Leongatha, a side which also pushed the favourite to within a few goals in the second semi-final.
The match is expected to be a shoot-out between Leongatha’s Melinda Hughes at one end and Morwell’s Jennifer Duncan at the other.
After an upset early in the finals series, which saw ladder leaders Morwell bow out in straight sets, the C grade competition will see a clash between the teams that finished fourth and fifth on the ladder – Traralgon and Bairnsdale.
Six of the 10 Gippsland League clubs will be represented in Sunday’s grand final, evidence of just how even the netball competition is.
