A-grade honour for Sandhust star

SANDHURST centre Brianna Dalrymple-Monro was yesterday crowned the Betty Thompson medallist as best and fairest in the Bendigo Football Netball League’s A-grade netball competition.With votes from two rounds to be called, the Sandhurst star and Eaglehawk defender Lauren Ryan were locked on 19 votes.Dalrymple-Monro earned a vote in the 17th round.The final card called by Kylie Ellis was from Sandhurst’s clash with South Bendigo.Dalrymple-Monro was adjudged best-on-court and finished on 23 votes, with Ryan on 19.Next was Kangaroo Flat’s Simone Andrews on 17 votes.“The vote count was as exciting as Saturday night’s final,” Betty Thompson said shortly before presenting the winner and runner-up trophies and medals.First and second for the medal, Dalrymple-Monro and Ryan were opponents in the preliminary final played under the QEO lights.“I call Brianna ‘twinkletoes’ because her feet move so fast,” Thompson said.Since she first played for Boomerangs in the Golden City competition, Dalrymple-Monro has impressed with her slick passing and foot skills. She joined Sandhurst in 2007 and was a key player in the under-17s premiership.Coach Melissa Ryan has watched Dalrymple-Monro become one of the league’s best in all of the past five seasons.Both will will be chasing premiership victory this Saturday against Golden Square.“It will be my first A-grade grand final,” said the research assistant at Victoria University.The medallist thanked parents Paul and Suzy for all their support, and her twin sister, Erica who has mainly played for Sandhurst’s A-reserve team.Kangaroo Flat celebrated medal wins by Yasmin Thomas, the Jenny Holbon medal for A-reserve, and by 42-year-old Nina Cass in B-grade.The Carol Sing medal for 17-and-under was won by Eaglehawk’s Amy Jackman.