Gold selectors brought Val Hassell (skip), Wendy Jelbart (third), Annette Millard (second) and Valda Solly (lead) together to form a rink of players who had never played together before.

Their rink would go on to finish the season on top of the skip ladder and drive Gold to the minor premiership and the grand final.

All four players told The Standard that their first season together had been ‘wonderful’, with Millard adding that the rink had exceeded all expectations.

“We have surprised everyone, we have just gelled and we don't know why and that means a lot to us,” she said.

Solly said that the relationship between the four ladies had been a factor in their strong season.

“We all get on really well, everybody is there for everybody all the time, we just just like being together,” she said.

Hassell said it came back to trust.

“We have all worked together, we have just put faith in each other and it’s worked wonders,” Hassell said.

Gold’s opponent, Dennington Red, have an equally influential skipper amongst its rinks. 

Maureen Drennan finished third in the skip ladder behind Hassell and Colleen Haberfield (Gold) and showed last Tuesday that her form had carried over into the finals, bowling Red to a two-shot victory over Warrnambool Gold to secure its spot in the decider.