The stage is set for a blockbuster Horsham District A Grade netball preliminary final between Noradjuha-Quantong and Rupanyup this weekend, with a chance to play Laharum in the grand final on the line.

The Panthers advanced to the preliminary final in a thrilling one-goal win over Kalkee in trying conditions on Sunday, while Laharum punched its ticket to the grand final a day earlier thanks to a 44-27 win over Noradjuha-Quantong.

Rupanyup’s semi-final win was one of the matches of the season, with the Panthers trailing by four goals at quarter time before storming back to lead by the same margin at the half.

A back-and-forth third term set up a frenetic final quarter, with only seven total goals scored in the final seven minutes as both teams created turnovers and deflections.

In the dying minutes Kalkee goal attack Jarrah Martin tied the scores at 31 apiece, and wing defence Clair McDonald seemed to have created a turnover from the ensuing Ruanyup centre pass, but lost her balance and was forced to roll the ball blindly backwards, where Panther captain Ally Hiscock waited.

Hiscock worked the ball to Bianca Drum, who goaled to give Rupanyup the lead with less than a minute on the clock.

Kalkee drove the ball forward from its centre pass and gave Martin an opportunity to tie the scores again with only 15 seconds remaining, but her shot caromed off the ring and defender Lucy Bussenschutt secured a huge rebound for Rupanyup.

The drama was not over however, as a quick three-second call resulted in a turnover and one last chance for the Kees.

They pushed forward again, but time expired as Martin caught the ball under the ring, sealing a suspenseful 32-31 win for Rupanyup.

Panther coach Jedda Heard admitted the margin was too close for comfort, but said she was proud of the way her players responded when challenged.

“It was a bit stressful, but we got over the line and that’s all we needed to do,” she said. “At the start Kalkee came out quickly with the pace of the ball and I don’t think we were quite ready for it.

“I feel like they probably could have gotten a few more on us, but our defenders did really well at applying enough pressure that the margin didn’t blow out.

“When the rain hit in the second quarter I think that helped us too. We probably handled the weather a tiny bit better than Kalkee. That’s when we came back and managed to get a lead on them.”

Demons in big dance

Rupanyup will now face Noradjuha-Quantong, after the Bombers were dealt a 17-goal loss in the first semi-final by Laharum.

The Demons confirmed their status as premiership favourites by racing to a 14-5 lead at quarter time and extending the margin throughout the game.

Laharum coach Rebecca McIntyre had the better of her battle against Bomber goalie
Shannon Couch, holding Couch to a season-low 10 goals.

McIntyre credited the work of her team-mates in helping to deny Couch easy shots at goal.

“We know Shannon is a big part of their team,” she said.

“When you have a goal shooter that’s shooting 40 or 50 goals a week on average, then you know they’re someone they rely on. One of our biggest focuses was to try to stop that pass into Shannon and not allow that to be an easy option”.

At the other end, Laharum’s Caitlin Jones-Story was able to find space, benefitting from pinpoint passing by wing attack Mel Russell and netting a game-high 35 goals.

The win gave Laharum its fifth consecutive A Grade grand final berth, but McIntyre said the team would take nothing for granted.

Heard said Rupanyup’s task would not ‘get any easier’ in this week’s preliminary final against the Bombers.

The sides have met twice this season, with Rupanyup winning 51-41 in round six and the Bombers triumphing 38-36 in round 17.

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