SANDHURST has written yet another chapter in its long and celebrated history by capturing their third successive BFNL A-grade netball premiership.
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The Dragons had to withstand the bravest of challenges from a resolute Kangaroo Flat, but prevailed 42-35 in a riveting grand final contest at the QEO on Saturday.
No club has won three-straight top-level premierships since the Dragons last achieved the feat in 2005-07.
The three-peat capped another amazing grand final day on the netball court for the Dragons, which ended with three premierships in total.
Sandhurst also won titles in A-reserve and 17-and-under.
Much like their A-grade counterparts, the junior team was also able to notch a premiership three-peat.
A-grade joint coaches Tamara Gilchrist and Heather Oliver, who was best on court in the triumph, said they could not have been prouder of what their players had achieved.
"It's living the dream," Gilchrist said.
"Never in your wildest dreams would you imagine to win one, let alone three.
"This is something really special. To lose only drop two games all season is a great year."
Never in your wildest dreams would you imagine to win one, let alone three.
- Tamara Gilchrist
As they were in all four meetings against Kangaroo Flat this season, including a mid-season win to the Roos, Sandhurst had to dig deep for a win.
The Roos came out firing to lead by two-goals at quarter time.
They led by as many as six goals during the second quarter, before the Dragons steadied to have the game on level terms at half-time.
An early goal in the third term to Oliver gave the Dragons their first lead of the match, and it was there they remained, turning a two-goal three-quarter-time lead into a seven-goal victory.
"It was a hard-fought game. Credit to Kangaroo Flat, every time we play them, they leave nothing out there," Gilchrist said.
"We wanted it so bad. I know both teams go out there wanting it, but we were just never ever going to give it up. Those girls wanted it for each other.
"Kangaroo Flat is a very good side, they match up on us well and it's always a real individual battle out there.
"I just said to our girls to be accountable and play your role."
Gilchrist could not speak highly enough of her fellow coach, who was supreme at goal attack and finished with 26 goals, the equal-highest tally for the match, tied with Kangaroo Flat's Annie Spear.
"She really stood up today, as she always does," she said.
"We know their defenders are tough at it and we needed her to shoot the lights out and she did."
The win capped a run of 10-straight wins for the Dragons this season, starting against Strathfieldsaye in round 11.
Their last lost was against Kangaroo Flat in round 10.
Gilchrist expressed a want to keep the 2018 playing group together for a tilt at another flag and was confident it could be done.
"These girls love winning for each other, so I don't think there would be any intention to go anywhere else," she said.
"As long as we can keep this group together we will."
Her sentiments were echoed by Dragons skipper Meg Williams, one of five players to have played in all three grand final wins, alongside Imogen Sexton, Carly Van Den Heuvel, goal shooter Rebecca Smith and Sophie Shoebridge.
"The three-peat really means so much because this group of girls is just amazing, I love them so much," she said.
"Our coaches have put in so much effort in the last three years; we go out there and we play for them.
"I am really proud of them."
The midcourter, who had a captivating duel with young Roos wing defence Ella Wicks, gave full respect to their rivals for a tough battle.
"Credit to Kangaroo Flat, they came out firing more than we did at the start and we really knew we were in for a battle," she said.
"We knew we had to dig deep to get on top.
"At the half-time break we said to ourselves this is the quarter that will make or break us and we really needed to give things a shot.
"That quarter we really realised we've got this."
Williams reserved praise for young defender Imogen Sexton, who for the third-straight year produced a brilliant grand final game.
"She killed it for us - the amount of times she saved the ball.
"She has had such an amazing season and really flies under the radar."
Eight players shared court time in the premiership win - Oliver, Williams, Sexton, Van Den Heuvel, Smith, Shoebridge, and Brianna and Erica Dalrymple-Monro. Ruby Turner and Madi Sexton were reserves.
A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST TWO LEGS OF A PREMIERSHIP THREE-PEAT:
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