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NEWBRIDGE has broken a 48-year drought to claim the LVFNL A-grade netball premiership over Mitiamo.
Up against a Superoos side chasing their second flag in five years, the Maroons led from start to finish to claim their second top level premiership with a hard-fought 39-33 victory at Pyramid Hill.
The Maroons' last won the premiership in 1968 and had not participated in a grand final in more than a decade.
A tall and athletic Maroons were served well at both ends of the court by goal keeper Amy Jackman and Jane King.
They were forced to dig deep in the final quarter against a daring Superoos, who pulled within three goals after trailing 33-25 at three quarter time.
But the purposeful Maroons were not to be denied, pulling away to win by six goals.
Newbridge supporters swarmed onto the court to surround coach Carmen Shevlin and her players after the final siren, which signalled an end to the longest run of years without a premiership of any single LVFNL club.
Shevlin admitted to a few nervous moments in the final term as the Superoos rallied, but remained confident her players could pull through.
"They certainly did come back at us, but the girls really kept their composure," she said.
"As long as we kept getting one or two goals, it was going to be our ball game.
"It doesn't help when you are counting the (game) time yourself, the tears started flowing before they were meant to, but that's alright.
"It means a lot, it's been a long time coming (for the club) - I was very proud of the girls."
The Maroons went into the game favourites, scoring wins in two of the three games played against Mitamo this season.
Their grand final margin was two goals fewer than that in their second semi-final win two weeks earlier.
An early season loss to Mitiamo was the Maroons' sole defeat for the season.
Goal keeper Jackman was awarded best on court, combining brilliantly in defence with Megan Jennings in the first half, Fiona Themann in quarters three and four, and wing defence Gemma Steel.
Rachel Pettifer provided strong drive into attack for the Maroons, as did her opponent Amelia Ludeman for the Superoos.
Shevlin credited her players self-belief in each other to get the job done as a key component in the premiership win.
"We back each other 100 per cent, we have a really good team bond," she said.
"We've been working together so well all season, supporting each other.
"When you have superstars like Amy (Jackman), she was phenomenal - she was amazing like she always is."
Mitiamo coach Jenny Clohesy said her side was left to rue a slow start after succumbing to a 14-7 lead at three quarter time.
"They put the pressure on us early and really made us work for the ball," she said.
"We made a few costly mistakes early, but after that first quarter we didn't really let the the lead get out much further.
"We need to start better. It was disappointing because we came into the game really thinking we could win the game, but well done to Newbridge, they played a great game of netball."