Kickstarting the day’s gold medal matches, New South Wales and Victoria met for their chance to be crowned as winners of the 17/U division at Nationals. Victoria were first out of the gates, taking the first centre pass and score of the game. The Victorians seemed in control of their grand final nerves as they tested New South Wales’ game play.
New South Wales managed their first goal of the game, with goaler and captain Monika Otai getting her team on the scoreboard. This ignited New South Wales’ fire as they took the next three goals of the quarter. Victoria reacted quickly, determined to shut down any advance from their opponents.
Gutsy Victorian wing defender Montaya Sardi was dominant around the defensive circle, collecting multiple intercepts. The end of the first quarter saw Victoria maintain their momentum as they led New South Wales, 10 to 9 goals.
The intensity only grew as both teams fought tooth and nail in a tight second quarter. New South Wales fielded the first goal, but Victoria immediately answered with another. Both teams went goal for goal, giving rise to a 19 goal tie at half time.
The roars of a passionate crowd filled the stadium as New South Wales and Victoria continued to battle it out for gold. New South Wales applied some fantastic ball movement and unrelenting defensive pressure to get ahead of Victoria. Dynamic defenders Frederika Schniedeman and Eugenie Little stayed hungry for the win, managing many valuable turn overs. This valiant team effort allowed New South Wales to move in front by three-quarter time, leading 30 to 26 goals.
With only ten minutes left to secure the match, both teams utilised every moment of the final quarter. It was New South Wales who kept control of the game, dominating in both attack and defence. This unsettled the Victorians, as they lost multiple possessions due to inaccurate passing and rushed plays.
Quickly regaining their composure, Victoria managed to remain firmly in the fight for gold with a last-minute surge. Victorian team captain, Mia van Wyk led her team in what was an exhilarating final quarter effort. This was not enough to stop New South Wales, as they charged home to a 38 to 35 goal victory, confirming them as the winners of the 17/U gold medal match.
New South Wales 17/U head coach, Amber Cross, commended her team’s relentless efforts across each quarter.
‘There is a real belief in this team of girls, a belief in each other and their ability to win in any situation,’ Cross said, also highlighted the significance of the win, as the last time New South Wales won the 17/U championship was over ten years ago.
Despite the emotional defeat, Victorian 17/U head coach Tracey Brereton said she was immensely proud of her team and their performance throughout the Championships.
‘I could not have asked for more from my girls this week,’ she said.
New South Wales dynamo Grace Whyte took out the MVP award for the 17/U gold medal match after a stellar grand final performance. Whyte said she could not have done it without her teammates.
‘It means so much to win after all the hard work we have done,’ Whyte said.
In a 2019 rematch, New South Wales and South Australia got off to a shaky start in the 19/U gold medal final. Neither team was able to capitalise on their possessions in the early minutes of the game, despite some determined passages of play.
South Australia broke the New South Wales centre pass to take the first score of the game. The contest remained tight, as both teams forced each other to reset plays across the court. South Australian goalers Poppy Gilfillan-Silk and Kayla Graham showed their incredible shooting ability to help their team take the lead at the end of the first quarter, 6 to 4 goals.
Scores remained low throughout the second quarter, as both teams gave and received unrelenting pressure. There were several clever intercepts from both teams, but these were counteracted by rushed decisions and inaccurate passes. New South Wales goaler Millie Roach was a reliable target in the goal circle as she attempted to lift her team’s position. Scores remained close as the game reached half time, with South Australia maintaining an 11 to 9 goal lead.
Regrouped and ready to take on the game, New South Wales put in a courageous third-quarter effort. Early on, mid-court powerhouse Audrey Little managed two back-to-back intercepts to help her team claw their way back. This fighting spirit from New South Wales put them in front at three-quarter time, 18 to 15 goals.
As the final quarter of the gold medal match ensued, both teams locked horns in a final bid for the win. The intensity soared as neither team took their foot off the gas in all areas of play. South Australia took three consecutive goals to close the gap with New South Wales.
Several strong rebounds from South Australian goal keeper Jessie Grenvold gave her team a much-needed final quarter surge. It was New South Wales who managed to fend off an unrelenting South Australian side, sealing the win, 26 to 24 goals.
New South Wales 19/U head coach, Jennifer Wright, said it was relieving to take the win after a massive week of competition.
‘I am thrilled that the girls were able to get it over the line today,’ Wright said.
‘Their composure and trust in one another was really the deciding factor.’
Disappointed by what could have been, South Australian head coach Amanda Shattock said the loss was hard to take.
‘I cannot fault one of my athletes, they just played out of their skin,’ she said.
‘The repeated efforts in defence to create the turn overs was definitely our strength today.’
The MVP award for the 19/U gold medal match went to New South Wales team captain Audrey Little, whose dynamic cross-court abilities were unmatchable.
Little credited her MVP win as a team effort saying, ‘it is obviously such a privilege, but I would be nothing without the girls.’
Earlier in the day, Queensland defeated South Australia in the 17/U bronze medal match, 34 to 24 goals. Western Australia proved too strong for Tasmania, taking fifth position overall after a 31 to 23 goals win. The ACT beat the Northern Territory, 39 to 21 goals, to secure seventh place.
In the 19/U bronze medal match, Victoria came out on top against Western Australia, winning 40 to 34 goals. Fighting it out for fifth place, Queensland defeated Tasmania, 40 to 23 goals. The ACT managed to overcome the Northern Territory, 33 to 26 goals, to finish in seventh place.
To conclude the championships’ events, there were a number of individual and team presentations to be made.
In a tribute to late South Australian athlete, Ivy-Rose Hughes, Netball South Australia presented an inaugural award in her honour. The Spirit of Ivy Award recognises a 19/U South Australian athlete for their outstanding on and off court conduct at Nationals.
In an emotional acceptance, athlete Jessie Grenvold was named the first recipient of the award.
‘It is a complete honour to get this award. Ivy deserves to be remembered in such a way,’ Grenvold said.
For the 17/U competition, New South Wales athlete Grace Whyte backed up her grand final MVP performance to also win the overall MVP for the Championships. This was a dual award, with South Australian athlete Tabitha Packer also receiving the MVP title. Packer was lost for words at the prospect of being awarded MVP saying, ‘I could not have done it without the support of my teammates.’
In the 19/U competition, South Australian athlete Kayla Graham was awarded as MVP for the Championships. Graham’s relentless efforts throughout the week made her a deserving recipient.
The 17/U grand final umpires, Zoe Turner and Nathan Cera were awarded for their efforts, along with reserve umpire Joel Owen. For the 19/U gold medal match, umpires Shauna Winchester and Sarah McNamara, and reserve umpire Claire Kleinschmindt were recognised for their contributions.
