Grand Final Match Reports – Cougars

Throughout the season, individual players were presented with a raft of opportunities and over the season those individuals, and the team as a whole, grew in strength. It was a super combination of leadership, talent, confidence and flexibility that got them into the VNL Grand Final.

The grand final started with an arm wrestle. Both teams worked their way through nerves and felt their way into the match. While the Falcons took the slightest lead into the first break, it was the Cougars who came out firing in the second quarter.

Coach Gerard Murphy stuck with the starting line-up in the second term, having confidence in his combinations. Cougars pushed to a four-goal lead, but there some urgency in the Falcons defensive end and momentum swung their way. A four-goal lead turned to a three-goal deficit for the Cougars at the half-time break.

Changes did come in the third quarter as the coaching staff looked for a more space in the attacking end. Tayla Honey entered the game in centre. The Cougars were unable to catch a break. During the third term, Brooke Allan was forced from the court with knock to the nose. This forced a shuffle in the defensive end. Allie Smith moved back to goal keeper and Tori Honner entered the game at goal defence.

Ruby Horton also came on at goal shooter working in combination with Julia Woolley. The mid court shuffled around trialling different combinations between Emily Post, Vanessa Augustini and Tayla Honey. Mel Bragg was the one constant at Wing Defence. The combinations just didn’t seem to fire for the Cougars. There were moments of brilliance, but the Falcons scoring power was formidable. Brooke Allan tried her guts out all game. Her defensive efforts were relentless, but the passes into the shooter continued to sail over her fingertips by millimetres.

Gerard Murphy called on another shooting combination, bringing Sarah Main on at the last break. Coming on in the final term Sarah was effective shooting 9 from 9. Jane Cook was a dominant target for the Falcons all game, shooting 53 goals from 58 attempts. This Cougars Championship outfit gave it their all, and we know they will be back to have another tilt at the title in 2019.

Goal Shooting Statistics:
Zanna Woods 17/21
Julia Woolley 22/24
Sarah Main 9/9

There was no panic from the Cougars. The only change saw Kaity Sheringham move into WA. Throughout the second quarter the flow into the Hawks goal circle was almost seamless and their shooters rewarded effort, netting 25 from 29 attempts in the first half. Cougars found themselves down 17-25 at the half-time break

The coaches called on changes at half-time, Ellie Leydin returned to, WA and down the defensive end Rebecca Kelly came on into Goal Keeper. The margin stretched to 10-goals during the third quarter, before the Cougars fight back began. Momentum shifted when the Cougars threw out some mid-quarter changes. Hannah Van Gemst moved to Goal Attack, and Laura Giles replaced Gen O’Connor in Goal Defence.

The Coaches search for energy paid off and the Cougars slowly pegged back the 10-goal deficit. It was halfway through the final quarter when the Cougars drew level with the Hawks. The following minutes was goal-for-goal, with controlled netball played by both teams. Thrilling, but nerve racking for spectators. With just 20 seconds to go, the Cougars had a chance to draw level, but it wasn’t to be. The Hawks maintained possession for the final seconds of the game and were able to come away with a gripping one-goal win.

Goal Shooting Statistics: 
Hannah Van Gemst 32/37
Elle Rice 9/12
Simone Hickman 4/6