ZOE ASKEW
NETBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
BY ZOE ASKEW
TED Summerton Reserve netball court needed a flashing neon sign on Saturday reading ‘slippery when wet’.
Consistent rain fell slowly across the blue asphalt as Leongatha Football-Netball Club and Traralgon FNC B Grade netballers fought tooth and nail in the Gippsland League Grand Final, feet slipping from underneath them, bodies slamming to the ground.
The 2022 Gippsland League B Grade netball Grand Final was anything but boring.
The Maroons goal shooter, Cassidy Smith, bragged impressive shooting accuracy and unwavering tenacity from the first centre pass, adding to Traralgon’s fierce attacking game.
A bitter wind ripped across the court, but the faces of players in midcourt were red-cheeked and hot as they spent energy at 110 per cent.
Leongatha’s Zali Rogers, Traralgon’s wing defence Milly Murphy and wing attack Rebecca Duddington were at the top of the players’ talent pool.
Scores were neck and neck until halfway through the second quarter, and as teams headed into the third, the Maroons were in the lead, 22 to 17.
Enter Asha Nightingale.
The Maroons Under 17s shooting star stepped onto the court, dominating the shooting ring,
working brilliantly with Smith.
Murphy and Duddington also boasted a dangerous partnership in Traralgon’s midcourt and
defensive third.
Leongatha goalkeeper Alica Marshman put forward a noteworthy performance, especially
against two incredibly strong players, Smith and Nightingale.
Mashman’s vertical jump was nothing less than impressive, and her unwavering tenacity was a fundamental strength for the Parrots.
The Parrots worked overtime, trying to catch the Maroons in the game’s second half, but Traralgon had taken off, and they weren’t stopping until they broke through the earth’s magnetic field.
That is just what they did next.
The Maroons soared home with a 51 to 30 victory over the Parrots, securing their rightful place as Gippsland League’s B Grade elites and securing the 2022 premiership cup.
Traralgon FNC’s B Grade coach Fiona Morrow gave an emotional speech following the game.
“I am so proud of you girls,” Morrow said.
“What a great final series. What a game.
“We did what we needed to do and got our s**t together at the right time.”
The win carried a great deal of meaning to Traralgon vice captain Lori Scholtes, who finally
tasted success on Grand Final day after six attempts.
