Picola District Netball League 17-and-under premier Rennie.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Was there ever any doubt about Rennie?
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In a sickly-sweet showdown, the Hoppers edged out Tungamah in the Picola District Netball League 17-and-under netball final in a performance that left spectators breathless and the scoreboard rocking.
The cherry on top? Rennie is now a back-to-back-back champ.
The Hoppers entered the match with a perfect season on the line, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
Though the weight of an undefeated record hung heavy, Rennie handled the moment with grace and precision, securing a 47-35 victory that left little doubt about their superiority.
Tungamah's Ellie Buerckner steadies before launching a pass forward.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Rennie's Demi Rhodes and Tungamah's Millie Dodd.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Rennie's Sophie Coghill starred in attack for the Hoppers.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tungamah's Anna Zanin pauses for a second before making a pass.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Rennie's Lucy Bassett and Tungamah's Anna Zanin.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Co-coaches Tegan Lee and Ebony Williams spoke candidly about the tension of the occasion.
“Look, the girls came out fighting. They wanted it, I think they gave it everything they had. It definitely was tight,” Lee said.
“Tungamah definitely wanted it as well, they made us work for it but in the end the girls kept their heads level and came out with the end,” Williams said.
Despite a valiant effort from the Bears’ sharpshooters, who demonstrated why they deserved their place in the final, Rennie remained unfazed.
The Hoppers made their intentions clear from the outset, jumping to a 12-10 lead with early dominance.
The imposing presence of goal shooter Mabel Cope, paired with the incisive accuracy of Sophie Coghill in goal attack, set the tone.
Midcourt dynamo Laynee Rhodes’ energy further fuelled the Hoppers’ advance, leading them to an 26-17 advantage at the half time break.
Tungamah’s Victoria Laffan and Jasmine Walker were pushing the buttons in attack, continuing with audacious attempts while Rennie remained more ruthless with its gains.
In the third quarter, both sides fought for every scrap. It was hungry netball at its finest.
However, the fourth quarter was when the shots truly dropped for Rennie, with lovely lobbed feeds clunked and dispatched by Coghill and co in the offensive arc.
And with the final siren, one sign in the crowd was hoisted to the heavens.
Embossed in Rennie green, the placard read we’re going on a bear hunt.
Consider the Bears hunted.
Coghill was bestowed best on court honours, but with a full-faceted Hoppers’ display launching Rennie to a fabled three-peat, Lee highlighted the importance of her team’s focused mindset and grand final experience.
“I definitely think (playing in grand finals before) helped them keep level headed,” she said.
“They’re used to the crowd, they’re used to the loudness and I think it helped. We were a nervous wreck being our first year coaching.
“It was definitely a lot of pressure to live up to to bring it home for a third year, but the girls held their own.”
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