GIPPSLAND STORM capped off 2013 with a pair of netball championship victories – with the under-15/1s and under-15/3s claiming fantastic wins.
Gippsland Storm Under 15/1’s have completed the perfect season, with a hard fought seven-goal victory over a tenacious New Era in last Thursday’s night Grand Final at the Waverley Netball Centre.
Having been the form side of the competition for the season, going through undefeated, the girls proved why they were the best team, overcoming an even first half to eventually pull away from a worthy opponent.
Captain Lauren Redpath led from the front, creating numerous turnovers in the defensive end, being awarded the best on court award in a grand final.
The result was a just reward for ten very dedicated netballers, having only lost one game over the course of the last two seasons, and it’s greatest asset was the evenness of all ten players in the side.
All ten players have shown significant improvement over the last 12 months, only possible due to the hard work and dedication of these fantastic athletes.
The Gippsland Storm under 15/3’s also managed a terrific victory over the seasons top placed team Melbourne Waverley. The girls managed to turn around the results from the last time the two teams met from a 15-goal loss during the season to an amazing 11-goal victory in the season’s ultimate game.
Coach Brendan Murnane said of the win: “The girls came out firing from the very first whistle and despite the opposition giving us the odd scare we were never headed… the longer the game went the better we were”.
“All players played undoubtedly their best game for the season and all would have been worthy recipients of the best on court award – which in the end went to Annie French (Beaconsfield) for her outstanding performance at Wing Attack”.
The win was made even more satisfying after a season, riddled with injury and missing two of their starting line-up (including the season’s beat and fairest winner and captain) due to other commitments.
The wins caped off another great year for Gippsland Storm with five out of seven teams making finals and two Premierships in the 15’s.
2014 will be another exciting year for the club as they cement their partnership with Monash University Storm (VNL) and continue to provide the region’s best players with opportunities to reach their potential.
