A STUNNING 21 goal turnaround has catapulted Kangaroo Flat into next weekend’s BFNL A-grade preliminary final.
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The Roos, who will meet Sandhurst next Saturday after the Dragons feel to Gisborne in Sunday’s second semi-final, were able to orchestrate a remarkable comeback after trailing Eaglehawk by 10 goals during the second quarter of Saturday’s first semi-final encounter.
Eaglehawk led by seven goals at quarter time and were able to push the margin out further before the Roos reduced the gap to just five goals at the main break.
What followed was an incredible display of netball from Kangaroo Flat, which added 18 goals to 10 in the third quarter to snatch a three goal lead at the final change.
The Roos piled on 19 more goals to the Hawks’ 11 to run out 11 goal victors.
It’s the Roos’ never say die attitude that has their coach Jayden Cowling confidently looking forward to next weekend.
“We played Eaglehawk earlier on this season and lost by 18 goals and 20, it just shows that in finals when it’s do-or-die anything can happen,” she said.
“We never gave up. We knew the connection between Abbey and Ash (Ryan) and Dayna (McGough) was always going to get the ball down to their attack end, but it was a matter of keeping on working and we’ll eventually get it back and hopefully we’ll convert.
“I also made a couple of changes at half time for their defenders to have something to think about and that worked in our favour as well.”
Pivotal among those moves were the switch of Ruby Barkmeyer into goal attack and introduction of Adrienne Murphy at goal shooter.
“It was a new combo we haven’t seen much of this season, but they certainly fitted in well and dominated,” he said.
“Adrienne probably only missed once in the second half.”
“Last week we had Annie Spear step up for us (at goal shooter), so it just proves that anyone in our A and A-reserve teams can step up.”
A handy Saturday for the Roos was capped with their A-reserve team qualifying for the grand final for the second-straight season.
It was a disappointing end to the season for Eaglehawk, which bowed out in straight finals after occupying a top-two spot for much of the season.
BFNL semi-final results
A-grade:
Second semi-final: Gisborne 57 d Sandhurst 45.
First semi-final: Kangaroo Flat 62 d Eaglehawk 51.
A-reserve:
Second semi-final: Kangaroo Flat 52 d Sandhurst 43.
First semi-final: Kyneton 48 d Gisborne 47.
B-grade:
Second semi-final: Sandhurst 55 d Golden Square 37.
First semi-final: Kangaroo Flat 44 d South Bendigo 39.
B-reserve:
Second semi-final: South Bendigo 47 d Golden Square 30.
First semi-final: Strathfieldsaye 52 d Sandhurst 44.
17-and-under:
Second semi-final: Sandhurst 40 d Kangaroo Flat 41.
First semi-final: Gisborne 55 d South Bendigo 43.