NDNA 2024: Narrogin and Districts Netball Association season kicks off with close contests and a crushing win

The Narrogin Districts Netball Association 2024 season got underway at the weekend with an A1 opening round thriller that saw a buzzer beater from Olivia Wilson land Olympics Gold a one goal win over Pingelly 1 in Narrogin.

With both sides featuring new lineups as a result of this year’s expanded A1 division there were lots of players making their debut and many excited onlookers watching to see how the game would transpire.

Olympics Gold were fast out of the gate, taking an early lead in the first five minutes with new recruit Wilson teaming up with Tanya Hart in goals.

Pingelly were not to be denied and fought back to level the score at quarter time 13-13 thanks to some hard running in the mid-court by Anna Squires and sharp shooting from new combination Talicia Bennell and Deb McBurney.

The visitors took the lead in the second quarter off the back of a solid defence led by captain Mel Tinker and Ashanti Bennell and support mid-court from Amy Sounness saw Pingelly go into halftime up by five.

Changes were made by Gold heading into the second half with talented young shooter Claire Conlan being moved into goal-keeper to try and quell the Pingelly attack.

The move was a winner with Conlan rebounding and intercepting strongly allowing Gold to capitalise on turnovers with support from Aniela Reid, Lee Conlan, Jo Annear, and debutant Abby Dewing.

Gold and Pingelly scored 15 goals each in the highly contested third quarter and Gold trailed by five going into the fourth term.

The final quarter continued to be a close contest with Gold working hard to erode Pingelly’s lead and closing the margin to even with teams going goal-for-goal heading into the final minutes of the game.

In the game’s last five seconds Gold goal-defence Catherine Thornton threw a “Hail-Mary” into the goal circle where Wilson made a buzzer-beating shot that was ruled a goal due to World Netball Federation rule changes in the off-season.

This handed Gold a dramatic one goal victory to open their account in spectacular fashion 59-58.

In other NDNA games Wagin 1 and Wickepin 1 played out a 49-49 draw on Saturday afternoon and reigning premiers Williams 1 thrashed Waves 1 with an 82-11 win.