Netball
23 September, 2024
Saints C-Reserve netballers win thriller
The Horsham Saints C-Reserve netball team defeated Horsham in a one-goal thriller, which came down to the final seconds, to claim the 2024 premiership.
The Demons entered the match as undefeated favourites, but the Saints applied the pressure early.
In a tight first quarter, the Demons drew first blood to lead by two goals at quarter-time. The Saints fought hard in the second and managed to level the game up at half-time.
The game remained tight in the third, with nothing between the teams, with the Demons taking a one-goal lead into the last break.
With the game on the line and the pressure high, it was goal-for-goal for the first three minutes until the Saints were able to forge clear by three goals.
The lead hovered around the two and three-goal mark for the next ten minutes until Madison Scott levelled the scores with about 16 seconds left.
Rori Marshman got the ball and shot cleanly just before the siren went, with the Saints prevailing in a thriller.
Marshman scored 27 goals in a best-on-the-court display, with Breanna Dyke scoring 14 for the Saints. Ashlee Ison was also excellent for the Saints.
The Demons were led by Madison Scott with 20 and Bridgette Keath with 19. Bianca Anson and Madeleine McQueen were also among their best.
Coached by Annie Mintern and Olivia Morris, the Saints were shocked they won, with Mintern saying it was an amazing win.
"I'm literally in shock, and I am so proud of the girls," Mintern said.
"We were the underdogs, and winning feels amazing, especially as we hadn't beaten them all season.
"It's my first playing premiership at the Saints, and I had coached a couple of premierships before but never won as a player, so it's pretty special to win with both roles."
Mintern said having the entire club cheering them on was instrumental in getting them over the line.
"We started the last quarter off well and had the whole crowd behind us with the entire club cheering us on," Mintern said.
"It gave us the momentum we needed. When they came back, we kept our composure and didn't let them get away with it. We stuck with our lead and got that last goal right before the siren, which was awesome."