SUTHERLAND SHIRE netball has hailed the efforts of their top women's team in winning their first division I State League title — the NSW Waratah Cup — in 13 years.
In a night of high drama at Auburn's Anne Clarke Centre, Sutherland could only field an eight-woman side (one bench player) for their grand final against the strength of an unbeaten Eastwood Ryde team.
Kristy Ferguson fell pregnant and Sydney Swifts shooter Carla Dziwoki failed to qualify, but helped Sutherland's head coach Maria Lynch on the sideline.
Midway through, watched by Swifts and Australian netball officials, it appeared the favourites would get their way after opening up a commanding eight-point lead. But the Sutherland "Blues" were able to dig deep into their reserves of stamina and courage to fight back and steal a 45-43 victory.
"Both teams played exceptional netball, from the shooters right down to the defence," Lynch said. "We only had eight players available so we knew we had to hold in there."
Sutherland shocked their opponents early with their pace and accuracy, earning an 11-9 lead at the first break. But Eastwood Ryde hit back hard, putting on 18 goals to nine for the quarter to open up a sizeable 27-20 lead after the second quarter.
Paula Mitchell was brought into wing defence and Lynch's move proved telling. The experienced 29-year-old campaigner and theatre nurse, playing her last league game, immediately proved a real thorn in the sides of her rivals. She began matching the defensive work from Eastwood's highly competitive Abbey McCulloch, whose sister and Olympic bronze medal winning sprint cyclist, Kaarle McCulloch, was in the crowd.
With 16-year-old centre Kaitlyn Bryce lifting the tempo, Sutherland added 14 goals to Eastwood's 10 to cut the margin to three (37-34) to set up a thrilling last quarter.
Aggressive defending had the umpires with their work cut out, as more and more players finished sprawled on the floor.
Sutherland goalkeeper Hannah Lee lifted and captain and goal attacker, Leah Shoard and goal shooter Melissa Tallent, proved more accurate than their opponents to level the scores, 43-43. With less than a minute, Shoard capitalised on an error to give her team the lead before Tallent sealed the deal with a brilliant long-range shot. Players, officials and fans celebrated as one — their first division I victory since 1999!
Head coach Maria Lynch, also the NSW under 21s coach, beamed with pride.
"We had a real belief we could do it, we held in and pushed to the end," she said.
Margaret Corbett, the veteran Sutherland coaching co-ordinator said: "We believed we had every position covered this season . . . and that's how it worked out."
Paula Mitchell capped a big night in her swansong game after 11 years of State League, winning the inaugural Netball NSW President's Medal for the most valuable player.
¦ Under the fitness training of Justin Lang — son of premiership-winning NRL coach John Lang — Sutherland Shire Netball could have more State League success. Their divisions 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 teams play semi-finals.
