WHITE Hills is primed for another crack at its premiership rival Colbinabbin following a polished qualifying final win over Huntly on Saturday.
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The Demons set up a second semi-final showdown against the reigning premiers by beating the Hawks 53-34 at Huntly.
The Hawks kept pace with the Demons throughout the first half and trailed by only four goals at half time.
White Hills was able to assert some authority with an 11-7 third quarter before delivering the knock-out blow with an 18-7 final quarter.
Both Demons coach Nadine Anderson and Hawks coach Emily Eliades pointed to the substitution into the game of Alyssa Cole at goal attack for the Demons after half time as pivotal to their strong second half performance.
“She’s super quick and short and those type of players are always hard to play on,” Anderson said.
The Demons got other strong efforts from their centre Lauren Bowles, who enjoyed a great tussle with the Hawks’ Kym Bell, goal keeper Anna-Grace Close and goal shooter Shannyn Keely, who nailed 11 of her side’s 13 opening quarter goals.
Anderson said her side was looking forward to renewing its rivalry with Colbinabbin after little separated the two teams in their last match on July 29.
“We can’t wait, were real excited about this Saturday,” she said.
“Last time we only went down by one goal in a very competitive and tough game.
“They are a super side and go very deep – if they have one goal shooter off, they just step up with another one.”
Hawks coach Eliades was left to lament an “uncharacteristic” poor last quarter.
“We played a really good three quarters of netball and really took it to them, but unfortunately in that last quarter it just blew out,” she said.
“It was really disappointing. The girls stood up for three quarters and then White Hills really put the pedal down and we couldn’t say with them.
“It’s disappointing because that is not us, we’ve had more of a ‘fight-on’ attitude all season, where we come back from behind or shown the ability to come back from behind, but on Saturday we didn’t have it.
“I think that result goes to show why White Hills and Colbinabbin are one and two on the ladder.
“Their finals experience counted for plenty, while our girls were young and nervous.”
The Hawks were well led by their centre Bell, the versatile Sharna Appleby, who rotated through wing attack, goal attack and goal defence, and wing defence Montana Kekich.
They have yet to defeat the Demons this season in three attempts.
Huntly now meets Mount Pleasant in next Sunday’s first semi-final at North Bendigo following the Blues impressive elimination final victory over Leitchville-Gunbower.
The Blues, under their first year coach Belinda Pinner, defeated the Bombers 57-38.
It was a contrast to their two earlier season games, which were decided by one goal at Gunbower and two goals at Toolleen.
The Blues are on track to replicate or better their best finish to a season in four years, after they finished fourth in 2014.
Huntly has won both games against the Blues this season by two goals at home and by six goals away.
