By Tara Murray
Rupertswood stunned Diggers Rest to claim a fourth straight Riddell District Netball League C-grade premiership.
The Burras entered the grand final as favourites, with the Sharks having to do it the hard way to win through to a third straight decider between the two sides.
The Sharks took a little bit to get going, missing five early goals, but steadied to lead at quarter time.
They broke open the game in the second quarter, keeping the Burras to just two goals.
The Burras threw everything at the Sharks in the third quarter, but the young Sharks side stood tall.
The Sharks were able to enjoy the win in the final quarter and get everyone on court, as they claimed the premiership 33-20.
Sharks co-coach Ailish McCormack was left stunned by the result.
PHOTO GALLERY: RDNL C-grade grand final
“We come into the game thinking it would real tough game, we were hoping for a really close game,” she said.
“Where we could show them where we were made of, the girls come out and absolutely blitzed it. I wasn’t expecting it and I don’t think they were either.”
McCormack was really impressed how the side were able to stay composed when they needed to be.
She said was the sort of performance they knew they could put out.
“When we missed five goals at the beginning of the game, gave me a bit of stress and thought it might be a bit of a repeat,” she said.
“However they managed to keep their composure and it showed that even thought they are a young side they can keep there heads and keep their cool and get the mojo going again.
“They ran their legs out and played their best. They showed what they were made of and the last final wasn’t what was their best.”
McCormack said she was thrilled to get everyone on the court, saying they had all got them to that stage of the season.
Having already been part of the under-19 premiership earlier in the day, an under the weather Reese Sutton was named best on court.
The 15-year-old starred in the mid court.
“She is like a little pit bull,” McCormack said of Sutton. “She goes hard for every ball and doesn’t stop. She’ll be out of breath and dying and still go for those intercepts.
“I think she’ll be an amazing player.”
