Bairnsdale’s remarkable Gippsland League “A” grade netball season has come to an end.
The Redlegs fell to perennial premiership contender Drouin by nine goals during last Sunday’s elimination semi final at Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve.
Bairnsdale forced its way into the finals following its most consistent home and away season to date. It then took out Traralgon in the elimination final at a packed Bairnsdale City Oval in week one of the finals.
The Redlegs took that momentum into the first quarter of their semi final against the Hawks, swift ball movement and accurate shooting from Anna Mooney and Sally Dellar seeing them surge to a three-goal quarter time lead.
However, in windy conditions the Hawks flew into form during a dominant second quarter, turning the tables by creating early turnovers to level the scores at the three-minute mark, going ahead 30 seconds later.
Drouin would shoot five consecutive goals in the space of three minutes before Mooney finally got one back for the Redlegs, but momentum had already swung significantly, the Hawks defenders well on top.
Drouin would shoot 15 goals to six in a blistering run, turning the quarter time deficit into a half time lead of six.
But like a football ground with a wind advantage, Bairnsdale shot out of the blocks in the third quarter with the first five goals, narrowing the margin to one before Drouin got a steadier at the three-minute mark.
A minor surge saw the Hawks get back out to a five-goal lead midway through the quarter, however Bairnsdale answered with consecutive goals on two occasions to close within one after 10 minutes.
Drouin got back out to a handy five-goal lead with a little over two minutes remaining for the quarter, only for Bairnsdale to go on a blitz and score four in quick succession and make the three quarter time deficit just one.
The Hawks scored the first two goals of the final quarter to open up a small advantage, before four goals in a row pushed the margin to six at the four-minute mark.
Bairnsdale was unable to score consecutive goals for the remainder of the match as Drouin slowly but surely edged clear for a 52-43 win.
Bairnsdale under 17 girls advanced to this weekend’s preliminary final, defeating Sale by five goals.
The Redlegs had a superb first half, creating a 10-goal half time lead.
Despite the Magpies’ best efforts, Bairnsdale’s early lead was too big for them to reel in.
Bairnsdale will face Leongatha for a place in the grand final. The Redlegs were beaten by 12 goals when the teams last met in round 17 so they will need to be at the top of their game.
