Picola District Netball League B-grade premier Deniliquin Rovers.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Last year Strathmerton defied the odds. This year, Deniliquin Rovers split them even.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Rovers achieved avenged premiership glory in the Picola District Netball League B-grade grand final on Saturday, and it had all the hallmarks of the 2023 flag – albeit with a few slight alterations hemmed into its stitches.
The opponent, Strathmerton, was the same. The scoreline wasn’t.
But ultimately, the end result was the only thing that truly mattered as the Rovers ran out 30-21 winners to the ecstasy of coach Alex Glowrey.
“Some of the girls were in the squad last year that lost so I guess they knew how it felt,” she said.
“But we trained and put everything together as a squad, so it was really nice to have the whole squad and both teams winning.”
Strathmerton's Chealah Dawson and Deniliquin Rovers' Jackie Thorpe.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 2 of 5
Deniliquin Rovers' Brittany Kirby and Strathmerton's Emma Hocking.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 3 of 5
Strathmerton's Caitlin Mills looks for an open lane.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 4 of 5
Deniliquin Rovers' Montana Jones gets on the stretch.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 5 of 5
Deniliquin Rovers' Brittany Kirby prepares to fire off an overhead pass.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The Rovers managed to capitalise on a fast start, wearing down the opposition after their Victorian-based opposition stumbled at the opening blocks.
There’s no doubt Deniliquin went into this game favourites and were the team to beat all season, and the hunted proved their reputation to be as fearsome as it read on paper.
But did the Rovers have everything their way in the B-grade big dance? No.
Deniliquin was on from the first whistle, hardly missing a beat during the opening quarter with Glowrey’s girls glowing 9-3 at the opening change of ends.
In the second quarter, Strathmerton barged its way back into the match as bastion goalkeeper Loreena Keane helped stop the rot in defence.
The blue, red and white supporters’ end began to bark as one goal after the other pinged through, and Emma Hocking’s gyrating and jumping act won plenty of ball in the midcourt for the dogged Bulldogs.
At the half, Deniliquin led by three.
Strathmerton was meticulous with its build up, knowing each turnover would be punished as Rovers’ shooter, Isabella Mcilwain, who had been kept quiet by Keane for large parts of the match, began to wear her defenders like a glove down the court.
The Bulldogs’ goal supply dried up throughout the third term as Deniliquin defender Jackie Thorpe set about her ways, eating up any loose ball and initiating Rovers’ attacks with surgical passing.
And when Keane hobbled off the court with 10 minutes remaining, Strathmerton’s death knell sounded.
The Rovers’ onslaught continued as Mcilwain transformed into a rebound freak in the game’s latter stages, piling on goal after goal to turn Strathmerton’s assignment from unlikely to unassailable.
A Deniliquin-themed shriek at the siren indicated what it meant to exorcise last year’s demons, with the Rovers’ premiership cup finally full after the disappointment of an overtime loss in 2023.
Thorpe was rewarded with best on court honours for her dazzling goal defence display while Glowrey doted on what four grand final wins out of five meant to her.
“We’ve got such great talent in Deniliquin and we do have such a supportive club,” she said.
“They call it the family club - I’ve got all my three daughters playing - and it’s a fantastic club to be a part of.”
