MITIAMO and Bridgewater have underlined their premiership credentials, going toe-to-toe in an epic LVFNL encounter at Mitiamo, only two weeks out from a much-anticipated final series. or signup to continue reading While it was never in serious doubt, the Superoos cemented top spot on the ladder ahead of the finals with a thrilling 45-43 victory. But it was the performance of the Mean Machine, which has fuelled hopes of a wide-open flag race, by pushing the minor premiers to the limit.
Trailing by eight goals at half-time, Bridgewater was able to outscore the Superoos in each of the last two quarters, to pull within two goals by game's end. Credit was also due the Superoos, who held their nerve as the Mean Machine surged in the second half. They were never headed despite the charge.
Coming on top of last week's three-goal thriller between Pyramid Hill and Newbridge - won by the Bulldogs - another tight result has set the scene for the most intriguing finals series in years. But while the Superoos will have the luxury of a break in the first week of finals, Saturday's loss has thrust Bridgewater into an elimination final showdown against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine. The Mean Machine's double-chance hopes evaporated after Newbridge took care of Calivil United at Calivil on Saturday.
While a two-goal loss was disappointing in that perspective, the positives far outweighed the negatives for Mean Machine co-coach Caz Wood. "I am really proud of the girls ..
. we had our chances," she said. "Unfortunately, they capitalised on our unforced errors in the second quarter, but we won the third quarter and we won the fourth quarter.
"We restricted Mitiamo to six goals in the last quarter, which was a huge effort. "We know we can do it, we just need to find that consistency for 15 minutes every quarter. "But that's the type of effort we wanted to produce today and prove that we are a good contender.
"We feel as if we are building coming into finals." The clash was highlighted by a pair of brilliant defensive performances at opposite ends of the court, with Carly Van Den Heuvel in superb touch for the Mean Machine and Caitlyn Hocking playing a great saving role for the Superoos. "Carly was really aggressive, bringing the ball out of defence," Wood said.
"We were really proud of her effort against Laura (Hicks). "And goaler Sidney Niemann's defensive pressure on the ball from turnovers was outstanding. "The other thing I liked was that we had a bit of depth on the bench and I think it's important in these close games to have it.
"If something is not quite on, it's great to be able to make adjustments." With their confidence boosted, the Mean Machine will look to round out their preparation for finals with a victory over Calivil United next week. Thrilled to have emerged with the points, Superoos coach Jen Wilson said a tough battle, and another next weekend against Newbridge, would undoubtedly leave her side well-prepared for finals.
"It was a very physical game and they threw everything at us and really made us earn it," she said. "But that's good in the lead-up to finals. Today was what finals netball was all about.
"If Bridgewater can play like that in finals, they are going to give it a good shot and be a real show. "It was a really good (14-8) second quarter that set it up for us, but they came back right at us. "The last quarter was quite even overall, but they kept coming and pegging it back.
"I was pleased that we continued to fight it out. That's something we have really shown in the last few weeks." The Superoos have withstood plenty of challenges in the last month from quality opposition, steadying late in the game against Pyramid Hill for a six-goal win in round 14, and overcoming a quarter-time deficit in a 21-goal win last week over Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Their minor premiership has been well-earned. Wilson praised a pivotal defensive performance by Hocking. "I thought she played an absolute blinder, especially after the first quarter," she said.
"She really stepped it up a notch and in the last quarter really saved our hide a few times. "And Sarah Bateman in wing defence just kept at it all day ..
just that persistent, defensive player that was always in their wing attack's space, trying to hold them up. "They had a really good tussle. "She twinged her ankle at one stage and came off and got strapped, but she came back on and continued where she left off.
"It was a great hit-out for both teams - definitely finals-like with the sun out and the pressure up." It was a very physical game and they threw everything at us and really made us earn it There will be no letting up for the Superoos, with a clash against another premiership contender Newbridge to follow. At Calivil, the Maroons clinched third spot with a 62-38 win over a gallant Demons.
Pyramid Hill will end the home and away season in second spot following a 52-15 win over Inglewood at Mitchell Park. Bears Lagoon-Serpentine jumped to fourth with a 58-38 win over Maiden Gully YCW. While it will have no bearing on their elimination final match-up with Bridgewater, the Bears stay in fourth will be short-lived if the Mean Machine defeat Calivil United next Saturday.
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