Led by captain and coach Jessica Cameron, the crowd could sense the team was well prepared for a tough encounter and raring to go at Hamilton’s Melville Oval on Saturday. 

Mininera started confidently and demonstrated some great passages of play from one end of the court to the other. Cameron (GA) and goal shooter Peta Byrne found their range early and were able to finish off the team’s great work with some accurate shooting. 

They took a handy five goal advantage into the first quarter break. Andrea Smith came into the game at goal shooter for the South West with immediate success. Her team were able to string together a couple of quick goals early in the quarter which gave them some much needed confidence in the circle. 

Nicole Anderson was outstanding at wing attack for Mininera and her delivery into Byrne especially was of a high nature. She was quick around the court and was popping up everywhere in the attacking third.

Anderson was awarded the best Mininera player for the match in a very strong performance. She was well supported by Emma Smith at centre who also had a good game. 

Smith was quick across the court and presented herself well around the circle. Her delivery into Jess and Peta was of a high quality. Mininera’s lead had pushed out to 10 at the main break. 

Sarah Cameron was brought into the game at goal shooter for the home team in the third quarter. While she made a nervous start, she was able to push through and make a solid contribution. 

South West were forced into making some changes during the quarter as wing attack Regan Luhrs went down with an ankle injury. 

It gave South West an opportunity to move its mid court players around but the group did take some time to regroup. Mininera was able to continue to add to its tally and led by 17 goals at three quarter time. 

Kate Reynolds (GD) and Georgia Muir (GK) were solid in defence for Mininera as they applied pressure at every contest. Muir took some great intercepts and was able to pull off some strong rebounds. 

South West’s Kate Nunn who started at goal keeper and then moved out to goal defence tried valiantly all match for her team and was named among her team’s best. 

Mininera continued its dominance in the last quarter as the sting went out of the game, and went on to record an accomplished 20-goal victory.

In an absolute thriller, Mininera and District Netball Association’s 17 and under team hung on determinedly to win their match by one goal. 

Leading the game for most of the day, Mininera was able to withstand a last quarter fightback by South West to claim the cup. 

Mininera got away to a good start with some steady team play down the court. Monique Dowling (GA) was lively both in and around the circle for Mininera and she had some vital touches which resulted in great goals. Her ability to create something out of nothing was unbelievable and she consistently finished off accurately. 

Mininera had opened up a two goal advantage at the first break. Both teams stuck with their starting line ups as they headed into the second quarter which was full of unforced errors. 

Mininera’s Renae Reynolds (GD) picked up numerous loose balls throughout the quarter and was named among the best for her team. 

South West’s defensive duo Zoe Hutchinson (GD) and Elka Smith (GK) began to player tighter on their opponent restricting the numbering of scoring opportunities the home team had. 

Zoe is a strong player who provides drive through the centre corridor while causing defensive turnovers in her path. She was named South West’s best player as awarded by the umpires. 

Mininera was able to extend their lead to four at the half time interval. 

The third quarter belonged to the South West as they made inroads on the scoreboard. Their intensity around the contests had increased putting some extra pressure on the Mininera team. 

Mininera’s dominance in the circle had dried up as the South West took some timely intercepts. Chloe Langley had been moved into the centre and she was lively in connecting defence and attack for her team.  Mininera’s lead sat at two at the final break. 

Both teams played some strong netball in the last quarter as the game got tighter and tighter. One could sense the involvement of the crowd which was great to see. 

Kiara Pitcher was dynamic through the mid court for Mininera and she set up numerous attacking moves. She is a fierce competitor who gives her utmost at all times. 

The umpires awarded Pitcher best player for the Mininera team in a strong performance. Mininera went on to win 25-24 in a fantastic finish to the game.

South West got away to an absolute flyer in the 15 and under contest, taking advantage of the Mininera’s unforced errors. 

Amy Waters (GA) and Beth Wilson were simply awesome in attack for South West and were able to finish off some great team passages of play. South West was able to take a comfortable 10 goal advantage into the first break. 

Mininera made a change in the mid court to try and ignite some drive through the corridor for the home team.

This was successful as Mininera players began to play a stronger game of netball. 

Goal attack Kate Millear worked tirelessly in and around the circle. Taylah Sharrock was restricted in the first quarter although started to gain valuable possessions and then scoring truly, putting much-needed goals on the board.

South West kept playing strong netball through some great attacking work by Marly Hoggan (C) and Laura Dyson at (WA). Both players delivered the ball accurately into the circle. 

South West held a 13 goal lead at the main break. It had the luxury of bringing players Megan Gray (C), Djakira Hope (GS) and Keely Price (WD) into the game for the third quarter. 

Mininera also brought Taylah Casson into the game at goal keeper.  This proved to be another even quarter as both teams played some strong netball. 

Unfortunately, Mininera was unable to make any great improvements on the scoreboard and trailed by 14 goals at the final break. Alannah Sander re-entered the game at wing defence for the home team but was unable to make any huge difference to the score. 

South West continued to provide great passages of play in the last quarter and won comfortably by 17 goals.