HAMILTON Kangaroos’ A1 netballers made club history on Saturday, collecting its first Hampden league flag.
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The Kangaroos held off North Warrnambool Eagles to win a thrilling grand final 35-33.
The enormity of her side’s achievement wasn’t lost on playing coach Jessica Beattie.
“It’s been a two-year process for me,” she said.
“I coached last year, so to win a flag two years after joining the Hampden league, and we knew it was a strong competition, is a fantastic result.” Hamilton Kangaroos started strongly, racing to a 12-6 quarter-time lead.
They maintained the margin at half-time, having pushed clear following an Eagles’ fightback. North Warrnambool Eagles rallied to be a goal down at the final change and tied scores at 26-all to start the fourth quarter.
But the Roos skipped out to a three-goal lead again.
League best and fairest runner-up Gemma Maxwell got the Eagles back in the contest and levelled scores at 33-all with one minute, 40 seconds left to play. Enter the sweet-shooting Kangaroos goal attack Marni Perry.
Perry, whose long-range goals were telling all game, dropped the sealer on her way to best-on-court honours.
Beattie, who admitted the frenetic final quarter was a blur, said Perry’s poise was integral.
Perry finished with 23 goals.
“She’s better sometimes from her long shots than her short shots,” Beattie said.
“I don’t know what her shooting percentage was today but I am sure it was very high.
“It was a well-deserved best on court.” North won the two sides’ home-and-away battles but Hamilton Kangaroos fought back to win their two finals encounters.
Beattie said she knew the Eagles would fight until the end.
“They came out firing in that second quarter and we knew it was going to be a slog from there,” she said.
“All credit to North. They didn’t give up at all and we really had to work hard for it.”
Beattie said their losses to the Eagles in the regular season indicated the Roos needed to rearrange their match-ups.
“We’ve got three goalers, so it was just (about) who was the best match-up in the goals,” she said. “It is not always the same. I learned who to play against North.”
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au
