HAMPDEN will send three sides to Netball Victoria’s association championships finals this month.
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The Bottle Greens’ 17 and under, 15 and under and 13 and under outfits progressed after finishing in the top two at western zone qualifiers in Warrnambool.
The 15s and 13s defeated Western Border in their grand finals to earn the title of regional champions.
Stacey O’Sullivan’s 15s won 15-11 while Tracey Baker’s 13s ended 11-9 ahead.
But Sharon Kenna’s 17s fell short against Western Border 11-3 after going through the preliminary matches undefeated.
“I didn’t have a goalie that struggled all day and (in the final) we missed our first six goals,” Kenna said.
“Even if they rimmed and looked like they were going in, they wouldn’t. Their defenders rebounded everything, they were on song.”
Kenna was pleased the teens would feature at finals. She believed their efforts throughout the day warranted a second chance to shine.
“That’s just reward because the girls performed really well all day until that final. It’s nice they get to play down there and have another go,” she said.
O’Sullivan was rapt with the 15s’ triumph. They had seven wins, a draw and loss in their preliminary matches but were at their best in the grand final.
“Our first game we drew and I thought we can definitely play better than that, and it was me also getting to know the players,” O’Sullivan said.
“The loss, it was a one-goal loss, I knew we had a good chance in the final.”
Defender Libby Moloney and centre Molly McKinnon were standout players. Shooters Molly Hutt and Taylah Antonio also drew praise.
“Molly Hutt, she was playing on a state player, she had to keep her busy. Molly had to sacrifice her game a bit to set up the goal shooter,” O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan believed the teenagers had the potential to go far at state finals.
“We always do well down in Melbourne and this side definitely has got the opportunity to be up there in the finals,” she said.
Baker was likewise proud of her 13s, who finished with eight wins and a draw from their preliminary matches.
“All up the girls played 12 games outside in pretty ordinary conditions. There were hardly any games in which it didn’t rain at some stage,” she said.
“For young kids, they did an awesome job, they were just a flexible little team. We could throw them around everywhere and everyone put in 100 per cent.”
Baker said height worked in their favour yesterday and would potentially be an advantage in Melbourne. Consistency also played a role.
“You could throw them from one end to the other and it didn’t influence the game,” Baker said.
“If they were up they continued to plug away and we were able to come away with the wins. It’s great to be that age and adapt to different positions.”
Association championships finals are on June 28 at Waverley Netball Centre, in Melbourne’s east.