The Ladies Indoor Netball crown was claimed by Barto’s on Monday night after they comprehensively beat Hot Shots 43-21 in their grand final game.
Barto’s had a number of advantages going into Monday night’s game at the youth centre.
In addition to being the underdogs (Hot Shots went into the match as favourites having only lost one game all season), Barto’s had the advantage of playing with a full side while Hot Shots were one player short for the whole game.
Barto’s also a height advantage at both ends of the court and, with their gun shooter Emma Barton shooting at a high percentage all game (including 100 per cent accuracy in the third quarter), Hot Shots were always going to find Barto’s a very hard team to beat.
Monday’s grand final game started off on an even footing and midway through the first quarter the scores were locked at 5-all.
Barto’s however got on a roll and they ran away to a 12-7 lead at the first break.
Hot Shots’ defenders Sandie Mitchell and Alice Flynn threw everything they had into shutting down Barton in the circle, however there wasn’t much they could do to contain the lob balls she was taking from her team mate, Kelly Fairbank, playing at centre.
Fairbank fed the circle well and drilled the ball in to her shooters Barton and Hayley Walker (for the first quarter) and to Jo Carter (for the remainder of the match).
Down at the other end of the court Barto’s tall defender Rachel Gentles made life very hard for the Hot Shots shooters.
Teaming up with Walker in the circle, they forced Hot Shots’ main shooter, Sam Vaka, to shoot most times from long range, many of which she landed.
There was a good match up of netball talent in the centre court in Monday’s game with Fairbank having to call on her years of playing experience to outwit and outmanoeuvre Hot Shots’ speedy Centre, Anita Atuau.
The end of season presentations followed the game with Barton named Player of the Grand Final.
Mollie Harley was voted the Best and Fairest Player of the Season with Britt Edwards the runner-up and Hayley Walker was third.
