Deniliquin Rovers seal consecutive Picola District Netball League A-grade premierships, beating Katunga by four

The game was everything it was touted to be.

Fast, fierce and fluid, it was like splitting hairs between the Rovers and Swans for almost the full hour of netball.

But when the curtain fell on the court, it was a sea of blue shrouding the asphalt as the Rovers’ matinee had onlookers supremely satisfied.

Triumphant coach Alex Glowrey was tickled pink in the wake of the 30-26 victory, rightly affirming that Saturday’s performance capped off a truly memorable year for Deniliquin.

“We’ve had such a lovely year with the girls and they’ve worked really, really hard for this,” she said.

“They had a target on their back I guess winning last year, so for them to finish off on such a great note was fantastic.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game — they (Katunga) are tough competitors — and we just had to trust the process that what we’ve been doing all year is going to work.

“And it did. Fantastic.”

Deniliquin appeared to possess a livelier line-up and from the jump, Katunga was on the back foot.

The Rovers had spring in their step with strafing passes pushing them up the court and into an early two goal lead while Natalie Sampson rolled down the shutter doors in the defensive arc.

Katunga defender Sarah Weidemann and Melissa Molloy threw a double team on Deniliquin shooter Abbey Wills but it didn’t matter — she simply was not missing.

In the midcourt, an athletic centre battle between Amy Duff and Hazel Glowrey was a joy to watch while Rachael Crowther, Katunga’s soaring Swan, took flight at every possible opportunity.

Deniliquin gained a 10-6 lead into quarter time, but the Swans earned their crust in the following phases.

Katunga attempted to needle passes into playing coach Aimee Sidebottom but many were cut out by Sampson and company while Gabby Barlow was like a phantom, ghosting around and cutting the lanes while stealing a stack of ball.

However, the Swans slowly but surely tiptoed back to one goal off the mark.

Sidebottom grew into her usual game as the quarter closed, and fellow shooter Tayla Smith hit an exclamation mark shot from far out on the half time hooter.

Deniliquin led 17-15, and everything was to play for.

Crowther’s flying intercept a split second after the first centre pass of the third term set the tone for what was to come, yet after weathering an early Katunga storm, Deniliquin — and Willis — returned to normal order.

Willis was razor-sharp under the ring, drilling home each and every opportunity that fell in her lap and causing headaches aplenty for the Swans’ defenders.

With a four goal buffer to play with heading into the final quarter, all the Rovers had to do was hold on.

However, that would’ve been a simpler task if Sidebottom hadn’t begun sniping shots from ludicrous range — she almost had paint on her runners considering how close to the arc the ball left her hands.

The Swans glided back to within a goal with five minutes on the clock, but as Smith returned from a spell to partner Sidebottom, it felt as though a full quarter from the wizardous shooter could’ve helped propel Katunga ahead.

Instead, Sampson pulled up clutch with a ruthless last run to expel each and every Swans drive.

And Wills? Well, she did as she had all season long.

She and Carissa Bulmer put enough distance on the scoreboard to make the final moments comfortable, and when the bell rung, it was play time for Deniliquin.

The 30-26 scoreline spelt pure relief for coach Glowrey, justifying her final address to her side.

“I just told them that we didn’t want to wake up tomorrow thinking what might’ve been,” she said.

“We needed to leave everything out all on the court and play smart.”

Sampson was bestowed the best on court medallion in the aftermath of a spectacular game as goal keeper, but in Glowrey’s eyes, there was no passengers on the road to the flag.

“I can’t single any of the girls out, they all did their job,” she said.

“Nat has had a stellar year, she really has had one of the best years of netball I’ve seen her play.

“But it was definitely a team effort.”