Bairnsdale’s under 15 netball side suffered a heart-breaking loss to Traralgon in the Gippsland League grand final at the Morwell Recreation Reserve last Saturday.
The Redlegs went in as short-priced favourites, having made easy work of the Maroons in both meetings earlier in the season.
But finals are an a different ball game, with different pressure and intensity that can often bring even the unbeatable teams undone.
Both sides took a while to settle, trading goals before Traralgon made the first statement of the game, scoring the final three goals of the opening term to lead 9-6 at the first break.
The Maroons got out to a lead as high as six in the second quarter before the Redlegs started to
work their way back into game, led by Ava Langley and Olivia Pearson.
The margin was cut to just two at half time and momentum seemed to be with the Redlegs at half time.
The game went to another level in the third term, and so did the Maroons, as both sides were spurred on by their respective cheer squads.
Twice in the third term the Redlegs drew level with Traralgon but were unable to gain a lead.
The Maroons shooters were able to score a clutch goal every time one was needed.
The lead was out to six goals after a horror period for the Redlegs, turnovers and missed conversions proving costly, the Maroons nailing six in a row.
But Bairnsdale wasn’t done, scoring the last two goals of the quarter, narrowing the margin to four, setting up a big last term.
Bairnsdale needed to make the running early if it was too seize victory, but it wasn’t to be, the Maroons playing with too much confidence, scoring seven of the first 10 goals to quickly open up an eight-goal advantage.
Bairnsdale rallied late scoring the final five goals to lessen the margin to three goals, but the day belonged to the Maroons, worthy premiers.
The Redlegs stars of tomorrow were disappointed but their time will come – there is too much talent in the side for it not to.
