A SECOND quarter capitulation cost Wandella the chance of qualifying for this weekend’s Golden Rivers A grade finals series, with Moulamein recording a three-goal win in what amounted to an early elimination final.
With just two points separating Moulamein (fourth) and Wandella (fifth) on the ladder heading into the must-win match, it would be the Swans who came out on top with a 48-45 victory sending them through to this Sunday’s first semi-final against Ultima.
The second quarter proved to be the decisive period in the game however, with Moulamein piling on 18-goals to 11, turning a one-goal quarter time deficit into a six-goal lead at the main break.
With their season on the line, Wandella responded in the third term but were unable to make inroads on the scoreboard, with the Swans again holding a six goal lead at the final change.
A three-goal burst from the Bombers early in the final quarter put an early scare through the Swans camp, but with just four minutes remaining it looked like the game was locked away, with Moulamein stretching the margin back out to five goals.
That was until Emilie Lancaster and Remi Macri combined to score five of the next six goals of the match, with the margin reduced to just one goal with a minute remaining on the clock, setting the scene for a heart-breaking end to the season for one of the two clubs.
That club would prove to be Wandella, with Moulamein goal attack Meg Rooney scoring her 19th and 20th goals of the match to ensure victory for the Swans and lock away a finals finish.
Rooney was named best on court for the Swans for her dominant 20 goal performance, while wing defence Laura Michlemore, goal shooter Jorja McDonald and centre Grace Morton were also among Moulamein’s better players.
Zoe Gray was best for the Bombers in a strong team performance, while Lancaster finished as the games leading goal scorer with 33.
The Swans will take on Ultima in the first semi-final after the Roos suffered a 14-goal loss to minor premiers Murrabit on the weekend.
The Blues set the tone in the first half, outscoring the Roos 23-goals to 15, before extending their lead after the main break to run out 47-33 winners.
The goals were shared around once again by Grace Gillingham (18 goals), Emelia Shannahan (16 goals) and Montana Keating (13 goals), while goal defence Louisa Frost, wing defender Jackelyn Burge and goal attack Ash Delmenico were the better players for Ultima.
The result means Murrabit will face off against Hay in a replay of last year’s decider after the Lions defeated Macorna by eight goals on the weekend.
Despite going through the season without a win, it was a strong finish to the year for the Tigers, who pushed Ultima to two goals last weekend and then the reigning premiers.
Ultimately, it was Macorna’s start which would prove costly, with the Tigers giving Hay a five-goal lead at quarter time.
Despite their best efforts, Macorna were unable to get back on level pegging, with Hay eventually running away to record a 51-43 victory.
Kellie Walker dominated in the goal ring for the Lions and scored 40 goals for the afternoon, with Kelly Burns doing likewise at the opposite end of the court with 37 goals for the Tigers.
