Put in the hard yards: Stanhope had to fight for every inch to claim the C-grade title.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
By a margin of inches and seconds, Stanhope received the title of 2023 Kyabram District League C-grade netball champion after an unbelievable finish had it topple Tallygaroopna at the death.
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On a cloudless and warm Saturday afternoon at Mooroopna, a pulsating and see-sawing final quarter of play featured a tenacious and almost instant six-goal comeback from the Redlegs, seeking a third club netball title across the day’s grand finals.
Up stepped goal attack Michaela Fisher with the game tied at 33 apiece, who converted a title-sealing shot with less than five seconds on the clock to deny the Redlegs the chance to complete a famous victory in overtime.
A vociferous, pro-Stanhope crowd was on hand for the club’s second grand final meeting with Tallygaroopna of the day, anxiously awaiting a better result after tough going in the 15-and-under.
The anxiety would permeate through the Lions faithful after Tallygaroopna, facing a 25-19 deficit at the final change following eight unanswered Stanhope goals, breathtakingly tied the game in seemingly the blink of an eye.
The scores would then be tied on a three further occasions in an action-packed and frenetic display of fourth-quarter finals netball before Fisher’s winner gave way to widespread jubilation on the bell.
“In the centre with 18 seconds left, we were pleading just to get it in there, a really good team effort at the end,” Stanhope coach Bec Schubach said post-match.
Lions goal defence Bianca Atley would be awarded the medal for best player in a thrilling decider, with Schubach offering more praise after the ceremony.
Special occasion: Bianca Atley gets to celebrate her best-on-court medal with six-year-old daughter Annabelle.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“Bianca is someone who gives 110 per cent every week, she’s a real leader,” Schubach said.
“She always comes through in the dying moments when you need her the most.
“I’m definitely exhausted just from freaking out on the bench, but we had a better outcome than last time.”
Indeed, Stanhope’s triumph could not have come as sweeter revenge, having been pipped by the Redlegs in a near-identical 34-33 heartbreaker in last year’s decider.
