Premiers: A-grade grand final winners Deniliquin (Photo: Steve Huntley).
Photo by
Steve Huntley
The perfect season — that is what the Deniliquin Rams achieved on Saturday afternoon, with the A-grade Murray Netball League side downing Rumbalara to secure the 2022 premiership.
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A convincing 44 to 33 result at the Moama Recreation Reserve, the Rams overcame an early Rumba challenge to lock in an undefeated year on the court.
Battling through heavy rain, the A-grade contest started out close and minor premiers Deni held a small 12-8 lead at quarter time.
Goaler Rhiannan Maxwell was in fine form inside the attacking ring for Deniliquin, with the yellow and blue side building its lead to nine goals at the half-time break.
Well and truly in control, the Rams had answers for all of Rumbalara’s questions, pushing their way through torrential rain to head into the last change with a 38 to 25 scoreline.
In the last quarter Rumba shot well, however, in the end the Rams were too strong, running out 11-goal winners.
Speaking after the game, Deniliquin coach and best-on-court Maxwell said it was “unreal” to win the grand final.
“Premierships are what everyone strives for and its been a long time coming for a few of these girls,” Maxwell said.
“I think we were just composed, we reset when we needed to we kept control of the ball and that was our biggest asset today.”
Alongside the attacking Maxwell, young gun Annie Harvey was a standout for the side, while goaler Bec White broke an 11-year wait for an A-grade title.
The result caps off a perfect season for Deniliquin with the side not losing a game throughout its entire campaign.
Saturday afternoon’s contest was the fourth time the Rams had faced Rumba this season, with Maxwell’s side winning all four.
Yet despite the final results, Rumba has come close to downing the undefeated premiers, edging closer each time they played and losing the semi-final by just one goal.
Trying conditions: Rumbalara's Magi Hollis prepares to pass the ball in the rain.
Photo by
Daniel Webb
Losing just two games in the home-and-away season, it was a successful year on the court for Rumbalara and coach Jess Bamblett said she was proud of her team for making the decider.
“Win or lose I’m just proud of the girls,” Bamblett said.
“Deni are a quality team and they were ready for it, came out from the get go, they were just too good on the day.”
A fantastic crowd braved the wet conditions to see the big dance, with all clubs represented in the attendance.
“It was an amazing atmosphere,” Bamblett said.
“We love our community, our community gets behind us all no matter rain, hail or shine and we’re just very grateful for them.”
The competition’s two best teams all season, Saturday afternoon’s contest was a fitting grand final after two COVID-19 interrupted years.
Happy days: Deniliquin's Eloise Ritchie hugs a teammate.
Photo by
Daniel Webb
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