By Marcus Uhe
A sensational performance from Narre Warren Goal Shooter Clare Vearing secured the Magpies a spot in another A-Grade netball grand final this week, having led from the front in a thrilling preliminary final victory over Mt Evelyn.
Vearing went head-to-head with Jodi Chandler medallist Kaitlyn Black in the Narre Warren goal circle and got the better of her newly crowned opponent, recovering from a slow start to win 46-43 at Yarra Junction.
Mt Evelyn made the running early in the contest, leading by three goals at the first break thanks largely to the efforts of Rory Barr.
With Magpies Goal Defence Gabrielle Dwyer towering over Kaila Swindell, much of the scoring duties fell to Barr as one of the competition’s leading scorers.
Likewise at the other end, Jacqui Black’s height advantage over Chelsea Tonna was proving problematic for the Magpies, as the Rovers jumped to a seven-goal lead midway through the second term.
The Magpies had more possession but struggled to put the ball in the net, where the Rovers’ direct ball movement afforded more scoring opportunities.
But Vearing began to find her groove as the half came to a close, with the Magpies scoring eight of the final 10 goals of the half, including the final five, to level the scores at the half at 23.
The Magpies took the momentum from the end of the first quarter into the second, and led by five goals at one, with the height of Jemma Osborne on the court in place of Tonna beginning to make an impact up forward for Narre Warren.
Much of that run came with Swindell off the court for the Rovers, but her return helped to spark a five-goal run that levelled the scores again at the final break.
Narre Warren struck first, but every goal from the Magpies was answered by Barr and Swindell at the other end.
A seven-goal-to-three run late in the term, however, saw margin grow to four goals, the most the Magpies had led by all afternoon.
The Rovers pressed, but appeared to tire as the game continued in the heat, having played an extra game than their opponents, who had the first week of finals off, as a result of finishing first.
With Osborne having played her role, Magpies coach Erin Bell went back to Tonna to close the game, who delivered when her side needed it the most.
A huge rebound and goal was decisive down the stretch as the Magpies managed to hold-on to the lead, and book a shot at redemption for last year’s grand final heartbreak.
Only Wandin stands between the Magpies and another A-Grade premiership, but the Bulldogs will be just as eager to salute at Officer on Saturday.
The head-to-head record this season is 2-1 in Wandin’s favour, including last week’s crucial semi-final win that granted them direct passage into the decider, while the Magpies were forced to sweat the victory out in the heat against the Rovers.
Saturday’s A-Grade grand final will begin at 12.10pm at Officer Recreation Reserve.
