BEWARE Kangas that are let loose in the finals series.
Ouyen United recovered from a first-quarter deficit to qualify for a fifth consecutive SFNL A Grade netball preliminary final, defeating Irymple by 15 goals at Merbein’s Kenny Park.
The Kangas’ razor-sharp passing and ability to go coast to coast helped them navigate the windy conditions best to secure a 54-39 victory and book a date with Mildura this weekend.
The winner will face Wentworth in the grand final.
The Swallows held a 15-11 lead late in the first term but some important defensive interceptions by the Kangas helped them strike thrice late in the term to bring the margin back to one at the first break.
Four of the first five goals in the second term also went their way as they established a lead they never relinquished.
Coach Kyra Nathan was outstanding in centre court and led from the front, putting together an entertaining head-to-head duel with Irymple counterpart Shakara Delcastegne.
In attack young shooter Maggie Smith was deadly with almost every opportunity, and alongside Catherine Brown the duo formed a potent combination.
Swallows shooters Shelby Trigg and Vanessa Power were dangerous when afforded the chances, the former especially impressive with her long-range shots.
However they also came up against Kangas defensive duo Casey Crothers and captain Esther Manley, whose timely ability to intercept set their side on the way.
Young Swallows defender Lilly Droffelar had the tough task of defending Smith but showed a great appetite for the contest and had plenty of strong moments of her own.
Manley said everything was coming together at the right time of year.
“I think all of our plays and structures that we’ve been working on all season are finally coming together and we’re executing them beautifully.
“We’ve got a lot of experience in our team, including finals specialists like Tsharni Burns, Casey Crothers and Kyra Cumming. They just seem to turn it on when it comes to finals.
“We’re really happy with how everyone is looking, everyone is fit and there’s no injuries and working really hard towards the end goal.
“Having Maggie back is a huge game-changer as well, she slots in beautifully, and Cat has adjusted so well to every shooter she’s had to play with this year, I think she’s played with about five different shooters and she’s just consistently the hard-working player that drives us forward all day.”
Irymple will be hurting from a straight-sets exit but they are well placed to be a contender for many years to come.
