By Tyler Lewis
It was an instant classic.
Olinda Ferny Creek and Narre Warren have created history in an epic Outer East Premier Division grand final for the ages.
There was only one problem with such a terrific contest… there had to be a loser.
After four intense periods of netball, nothing could separate the two sides, locked in at 36 apiece.
The Magpies trailed by multiple goals at every change, including by three at the last, before they – led by superstar Erin Bell – stormed home like a freight train.
By no means did Bell have her highest scoring quarter in the fourth – no that came in the second, when she converted 10 goals – but it was her ability to absorb the pressure and shoot truly when it counted the most.
Bell scored all seven of the Magpies goals in a tense final stanza, before she took an extremely long-range shot on the final whistle.
The crowd collectively held its breathe, but excruciatingly for the Narre Warren faithful on the hill at the opposing end, the ball bounced twice before falling to the ground.
Narre Warren proceeded to start extra time like it finished the fourth, swiftly jumping out to a two goal lead.
The game appeared to be slipping from the Bloods’ hands when sharp-shooter Hayley Howard was struggling to execute what she had done for the best part of the match.
At one point, it forced the Olinda Ferny Creek bench to ponder an up the court move.
But to Howard’s credit, she overturned her earlier yips to hold her composure in the tumbling rain.
The Bloods surged from a one-goal deficit at the mid-way point of over time to outscore the Pies five goals to three in the second allotment, ultimately winning 44 to 43.
When the final whistle sounded it was ecstasy for Olinda Ferny Creek and agony for Narre Warren, as it took well over an hour to decide the A Grade premiership.
The win was the first defeat the Bloods scored over Narre Warren this season and is Olinda Ferny Creek’s fifth A Grade premiership in just six seasons.
Bloods’ captain and centre Krista Tomlinson – who has played a crucial role in the sides aforementioned run of success – was crowned best on court.
In Division One, Seville will meet Berwick for one last time in season 2022, after the Blues dismantled Yarra Glen in Saturday’s preliminary final.
The Blues led by three or less goals at the first and main break, before surging clear in the third and final quarters.
Seville out-scored the Bulls eight to one in the third, before finishing with a 15 to seven run in the last.
Ella Morse (19 goals) and Hayley Ray (18 goals) were the two scorers for the Blues, while Stephanie Gibbs shot truly on 14 occasions for the Bulls.
Luiza Sulemani, Cleo Minney and Morse were named as Seville’s best, while Peta Fay, Katelyn Vanderkolk and Jacqueline Hibberd were amongst the Bulls’ best.
SCOREBOARD:
TEAM QT HT 3QT FT OT1 OT2
NARRE WARREN 8 20 29 36 40 43
OLINDA FERNY CREEK 11 22 32 36 39 44
Best on court: Krista Tomlinson (Olinda Ferny Creek)
