Strong display nets Wagin second straight A1 title, Pingelly’s Alex Hodges wins A1 fairest-and-best award

Wagin 1 claimed back-to-back A1 premierships after a hard-fought grand final against Cuballing 1 in front of a strong crowd in Pingelly earlier this month.

The Narrogin and Districts Netball Association senior grand finals were moved away from Narrogin and successfully held on Saturday, September 3 in Pingelly in front of lots of spectators.

The A1 decider was a cracking contest as Wagin chased a second straight title while Cuballing were playing off in their first A1 grand final.

In the end the class of Wagin prevailed as they finished 12-goal winners to secure a second straight A1 premiership.

There was some fast-paced netball and top quality skills on display in the first term as the sides traded goals but Wagin held a slight lead at the first change.

Wagin moved Felice Pocock to wing attack and Gaige Kapene to centre in the second and it proved decisive.

The strong connection between Pocock and shooter Courtney Webb was hard to stop as Wagin took control.

Cuballing defender Taya Olman tried her best to stem the flow and was able to rebound any missed chances but those misses didn’t come very often.

Cuballing’s shooting circle was finding it hard to penetrate the Wagin defence line up of Wynta Kapene and Ata Elliot as they pounced on any loose passes and caused confusion with space and feeds into the goal circle.

Wagin finished 59-47 winners in the end with Pocock deservedly named most valuable player in the triumph.

The A2 division one grand final was an outstanding game between Flames 1 and Wickepin 1 after the pair were separated by only a goal in the semifinal.

Flames built on their advantage over the first three quarters to lead by six goals.

Wickepin, however, had different plans and came out with nothing to lose and with about three minutes to play had levelled the scores.

The lead changed hands several times in the dying moments and with six seconds left Wickepin’s Emily Davey grabbed a rebound from a missed Flames shot and that was enough to secure a one-goal victory for Wickepin.

Flames’ Jess Daniels was awarded grand final MVP as her side went down 42-43.

A youthful Cuballing 3 outfit saved their best till last as they finished winners in the A4 grand final by 10 goals over the previously undefeated Pingelly 3.

Cuballing’s Bella Bushby was grand final MVP.

The A3 decider was a close affair throughout but the calm, experienced heads of Flames 3 guided them to a three goal win over Wagin 3.

Flames’ Taylah Licence was named grand final MVP.

The A2 division two decider started off the senior games and a fast start from Wagin 2 secured the title.

Olympics Gold had plenty of work to do after Wagin’s strong first term and scores were level going into the last but Wagin regrouped to emerge four-goal winners as JayJay Kapene won the grand final MVP.

The junior grand finals were played on Friday night, September 9.

Cuballing 4 were too strong in the junior division one decider, leading from start to beat Olympics Teal by 27 goals with Cuballing star Amelia Corasaniti winning the MVP honour.

Waves 2 finished junior division two premiers, piling on the pressure in the second half to win by eight goals over Cuballing 5 and overturn their semifinal result.

Willow West from Waves was grand final MVP.

NDNA also held their season awards presentation in Wagin with more than 50 people attending.

Pingelly mid-court star Alex Hodges was named A1 fairest and best player ahead of runner-up Courtney Webb from Wagin.

Pingelly’s Chelsea Mulcahy won the Marion Price Award as best under-21 player in the A1 division.

Other fairest and best winners were Flames’ Jessica Daniels (A2 division one), Flames’ Kiana Roser (A2 division two), Williams’ Abby Bennett (A3), Cuballing’s Jacquelyn Hill (A4), Wagin’s Shona Banks (junior division one) and Cuballing’s Horriekesha Williams (junior division two).

Pingelly were crowned champion club, Lee Conlan won the achievement award, Catherine Thornton received the umpiring award and Rebecca Miller won the coaching award.