Magpies finish on a high but miss narrowly finals

Wangaratta Magpies dominated their Albury opponents on Saturday, winning comfortably in all grades including 58-20 drubbing at the top level. The win puts the side agonisingly closer to the top five, but ultimately the Magpies fell just two points behind Lavington, finishing in sixth position with the home and away season at an end. The netball wins were a major contributor to the club taking out the Cleaver Bunton Shield for winning the Ovens and Murray Club Championship. Coach Shea Cunningham said it was a fitting finale for her side. "The team’s performance was a testament to their growth and resilience," Cunningham said. "Milly O’Kane was outstanding, consistently intercepting and driving the ball down the court thanks to excellent setups from her teammates. "Olivia Holmes had a standout game in Centre, using her longer leads to open up attacking space, her development in the midcourt this season has been exciting to watch." Amanda Umanski had another eye-catching performance finishing with 28 goals, well supported by Claire Wilson with 21 and Georgia Clarke 10 goals. "Amanda continues to improve," Cunningham said. "Her growth over the past two seasons has been massive. "Previously known for her ability to post up and use the back space of the circle, she’s now added new dimensions to her game. "Her fitness and strength have become key assets, and we’ve worked hard to leverage those to great effect." The coach was full of praise for her entire squad. "Our defensive pressure and setups were solid all day, and the team showed great trust in each other, playing fast when needed and smart when the game called for it. "The growth of this group across the year has laid a strong foundation for next season, and I’m incredibly proud of them." And while the A grade side has finished competition, the players will be still on court at training supporting the club's other teams that have qualified for finals including B grade (finished top of the ladder), C grade (second), and 17 and under (fourth). Wangaratta Rovers are in a similar position with their A grade side out of contention for playoffs but still represented in C grade (third) and 17 and under (second) grades. The Hawks were again competitive for most of the match against Wodonga before the margin blowing out slightly in the final term to 71-51 win for the Bulldogs. The Rovers had been within nine goals for most of the match Kyia Wohlers, Briony Simpson, and Bec Kreltszheim leading the way with Gracie Reid (32) and Sophie Pasquali (12) making the most of their chances. Coach Gracie Reid described the encounter as an entertaining game which felt much tighter than the final score suggests. "We felt right in it up until the last quarter, but credit to the Bulldogs shooters, they were clinical and didn’t miss when it counted," she said. "That accuracy really pushed the score out late. "I thought our group showed great intensity and fight throughout, and while the result didn’t go our way, there’s still plenty to be proud of." She said Kyia stepped up and fulfilled the potential she had shown during the year. "She played both WA and Centre, using her speed to great effect across the midcourt," Reid said. "Her ability to find space and deliver clean, confident feeds into the goalers was a real highlight - she brought great energy and composure, and her decision-making under pressure was impressive, a really strong performance from her. "Briony Simpson (WD) had a solid game, doing a lot of the hard work that doesn’t always show up on the stats sheet and Bec finished the season exactly how she played it, with consistency, composure, and a real team-first mindset. "She’s been, stepping up each week and setting the standard both on and off the court. "Her leadership and calm presence have been invaluable. "As for the team overall, it’s been a season of growth. "We’ve had our challenges, but the group has shown resilience, development, and a genuine commitment to each other. "The foundations are there, and we’ve seen glimpses of what we’re capable of. "There’s plenty to be proud of and even more to look forward to." Elimination Finals Saturday, 30 August: Bunton Park C grade, 11.30am: Magpies v Rovers 17 & under, 10am: Rovers v Myrt Sunday, 31 August: Martin Park 17 & under, 10am: Magpies v Lavington

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