Divas claimed their third successive senior netball grand final win on Sunday at Ward Oval and their 6th premiership crown since their first A Grade win in 2014.
The reigning champions went into Sunday’s grand final game as minor premiers and favourites having dominated the 2023 competition all season.
Up against old foes, Pumpettes, who they beat for the title last year (but had previously lost it to them in 2020), the match was a very physical game with both sides keen for the win.
Each team had a full side and plenty of subs on their benches which allowed both to experiment with different shooting and defending combinations which made for a well contested game.
Divas had an armoury of accomplished shooters at their disposal with their top shot Lauren Urquhart teaming up with Janette Bishop and later Corinne McLeod to lead the Divas to a 33-20 win.
The match started on an even keel with Divas just ahead 8-6 at the first break.
From the get go, Urquhart was heavily marked by Pumpettes’ tall defenders Jayme Francisco and Hannah Carrol.
Divas changed tactics in the third quarter with McLeod going into the circle to shoot with Urquhart.
McLeod was successfully able to draw one of the Pumpettes’ defenders further out into the circle and take some of the pressure off Urquhart under the ring.
The change in tactics worked well and Divas settled into a good playing rhythm which ensured they kept the upper hand for the remainder of the match.
Divas outpointed Pumpettes’ 7-2 in the second quarter, 10-4 in the third and 8-6 in the final session to see them through to their eventual 13 goals’ win.
The Divas also had the other end of the court well covered all game with defender Amie Hill, who was named Best on Court, an absolute stand-out in the game.
Hill worked hard all game first combining with McLeod, then later teaming up with Demi Smith (whose game was only a short one due to injury) and also Bek Coddington.
Between them they took a good number of intercepts and won a high percentage of rebounds throughout the match.
Their strong defence also very effectively limited Pumpettes’ shooters Emma Barton, Hayley Walker and Neve Carter’s chances at goal and ensured the Divas finished with the win.
