The City West Falcons overcame early nerves to come out on top in the Victorian Netball League under-19 grand final.
In what was the closest of the three VNL competitions, several teams could have easily claimed the title.
In the end, it was the Falcons who found what was needed at the right time of the season, beating the Southern Saints in the grand final on Wednesday night, 62-47.
The Falcons started slowly in the first quarter, trailing 13-9 at the first break.
Within five minutes of the second quarter, the Falcons had hit the front. They built slowly and led by six goals at half time.
The Saints were able to reduce the margin to two goals, before the Falcons steadied and the margin was back out to six goals.
The Falcons were able to build on that and get the lead to double digits. It gave the opportunity for those players who hadn’t played yet to get some court time.
The dying few minutes the players were able to celebrate their win.
Falcons coach Marg Lind said she was really proud of the group.
“For a lot of them it was their first final,” she said. “Once they got into it, they settled in nicely.
“We have a couple of really good solid players.
“I’m pretty proud of them. Credit to the competition, it was such a tight competition. We probably had a bit more height and experience in the end.
“Credit to the Saints they played really well. We got that 10 goal buffer. Mentally especially with young kids… We were aiming to get that break.
“It happened and took the pressure off.”
Goal attack Teal Hocking was named best on court. Defender Chari Nicol and wing defence Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs were also really good, valuing the ball and not making many errors.
Lind said it was nice to have the opportunity to get all the girls on the court.
“They have been a really good bunch and we’ve probably rotated them pretty evenly across the year,” she said.
“To get them all on was nice.”
The win means the Falcons have won the last two under-19 premierships, having won in 2019 the last previously completed season.
It is also the club’s eighth under-19 premiership.
