Sport
6 September, 2024
Magpies ready for fierce semi-final Storm
Maryborough will be looking towards a semi-final date with Strathfieldsaye with some gusto after their victory against Kangaroo Flat in the elimination final.
The Magpies return to the scene of their victory last week at the Queen Elizabeth Oval looking to continue building their momentum and confidence, however, in order to reach the preliminary final, they will have to do what they haven’t done this season and defeat Strathfieldsaye.
However, with the Magpies up and about following their victory, coupled with Strathfieldsaye looking to bounce back from a loss against Sandhurst in the qualifying final, it makes for an interesting encounter on Sunday afternoon.
The youthful Magpies showed they were up for finals netball, with their experience proving vital.
It was a move late in the second quarter which proved decisive for the Magpies in the elimination final — with Tori Chandler moving to centre, Katie Bilton moving to wing attack, and Amanda Durbridge into the game at wing defence.
That allowed the Magpies to turn a one-goal deficit at the main break into a four-goal lead in the premiership quarter, and the Magpies were able to expertly shut the game down in the final term to make it a defensive scrap, with just 17 goals scored for the quarter.
Jordan MacIlwain was outstanding in leading from the front, particularly in the last term when the game was on the line in scoring seven goals from eight shots, finishing up with 26 goals for the day, while also having a run of 20 goals without a miss.
Alongside her, Meg Kelly put in a shift, scoring 24 goals, which included 10 in the game-breaking third quarter.
At the other end of the court, Maggie Tranter and Ella Patten were able to do a terrific job in nullifying the Kangaroo Flat goalshooters late on, and their intercept game allowed them to take control in the second half.
The Magpies will look to reverse two results against Strathfieldsaye which did not go their way earlier in the season.
In their round nine clash, it was the first half which was the difference between the two teams, with Strathfieldsaye leading by six goals, before a late fightback saw the Magpies fall short by five goals.
In the final round two weeks ago, the Storm cleared away to win the second quarter by 11 goals, which made up the bulk of their 18-goal winning margin.
Maryborough’s under 17s will kick off the day with a sudden-death clash, also against Strathfieldsaye.
The Magpies were gallant in their defeat to Golden Square last week, but will be hoping for a better result to potentially get a crack at the Bulldogs, or Sandhurst, in the preliminary final.
They will have to turn around a loss in the final round by a goal, while their earlier clash in round nine resulted in an 11-goal victory.
The action at the Queen Elizabeth Oval will begin at 10 am for the 17 and under clash, while the A reserve semi-final will begin at 1 pm.