TOORADIN Agrade went into its semifinal against Beaconsfield as underdogs and again was able to hush the critics with a great win.
Its defensive pressure was too much for Beaconsfield in the first term.
Stacey McConnell seemed to be everywhere, able to pick off intercept after intercept in wing defence and allowing Tooradin to stretch out to a sixgoal lead and the desperately needed strong start that has often eluded it in the past.
Rachel Splatt was more than up to the task of matching it with Beaconsfield’s top goaler, an instrumental part of the team’s game plan. Sara Drain beat her Beaconsfield opponent with her pace, strong driving to the ring and pinpoint passing to Tooradin goalers.
In the second term Beaconsfield threw everything at Tooradin and crept in front several times, but Tooradin was the more resilient team and refused to get flustered.
Shona Wells came on at halftime and was a steadying influence on the team with her weighted passes and vision into the goalers.
The team worked well as a unit and stuck to a game plan for which Beaconsfield had few answers.
Keren Van Der Heyden worked tirelessly in goal attack and soldiered on, even after some heavy knocks and aggravating an injury.
In the last term Sharna Wadeson was cool under pressure and popped longrange goals through the ring when it mattered most.
At fulltime the scores were even and both battleworn teams had to endure another 14 minutes of physical netball.
In overtime, the talent, experience and leadership of Michelle Barnes came to the fold: she remained calm and in control of her players, leading by example and shutting her goaler out of the game when it came to the crunch.
Kate Lynch was not only a huge impact throughout the tough match, but was the key to a resilient defence, creating several turnovers that were converted in the dying minutes.
Score: Tooradin 53 d Beaconsfield 51.
BOC award: Kate Lynch. Coaches’ awards: Sara Drain, Shona Wells.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UNDER 17
Previous clashes between Tooradin and Pakenham were decided by just a few goals and the weekend was no different.
After a nervous start, Tooradin defenders Megan Ellett and Emily Van Rooye created many turnovers, constantly sending the ball back out of defence. Ashley Heald came on into goals, unfamiliar territory in recent times, and worked well with Holly Booth.
The margin was cut to only a few goals but in the end Tooradin went down by three.
Score: Pakenham 27 d Tooradin 24.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:UNDER 15
Tooradin under15s had a flying start against Pakenham in the second semi and kept up the pressure all day for a ninegoal win.
Score: Tooradin 31 d Pakenham 22.
