The Pumpettes recorded their second Cobar Senior Netball premiership on Saturday night when they narrowly beat Divas 50-47 in a thrilling A -Grade grand final at Ward Oval.
After winning the 2018 title and finishing as runners-up last year Pumpettes were keen to add another trophy to the pool room collection.
Minor premiers Divas, after winning the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons, have spent the past three seasons sitting on the sidelines of grand final games.
They too were keen to experience grand final glory again and both sides fought hard in Saturday’s grand final until the final whistle was blown.
Divas got off to a flying start and, at one stage, were five goals ahead before Pumpettes regrouped and played themselves back into the match.
Divas’ solid defensive combination of Demi Smith (playing Goal Keeper) and Loretta Baker (at Goal Defence) rattled the Pumpettes’ shooters with Smith deflecting and intercepting passes left, right and centre while Player of the Grand Final, Baker, shut down her opposition to take Pumpettes’ Goal Attack, Hayley Walker, out of the equation for most of the first quarter.
Pumpettes however regathered and only trailed 12-14 going into the first break.
A cool breeze rolled in at the start of the second quarter (which was appreciated by players and the large crowd of spectators).
With both sides making position changes, the second quarter was a different ball game to the first.
Both sides had plenty of pacey players in the centre court and the speed of the game intensified as Pumpettes worked hard to wrestle back the upper hand.
Their shooters, Emma Barton and Walker, changed their tactics slightly and worked hard to improve the score.
There was plenty of contest over every ball and Pumpettes’ defensive combination of Rachel Gentles and Jayme Francisco put more pressure on the Divas shooters which helped Pumpettes to take a three point lead by half time.
Walker shot more confidently in the third quarter to help keep Pumpettes ahead, while down at the other end of the court Divas’ Lauren Urquhart was shooting with 100 per cent accuracy from all around the ring.
Divas were down by six goals and had a lot of work to do to make up the deficit in the last 15 minutes of the game.
With calm and controlled play they started to close the margin.
The intensity from both sides didn’t waiver and Divas were threatening when they trailed by just two goals.
Pumpettes however weren’t going to let the 2020 title slip away and they finished with the 50-47 win.
