Gippsland Storm netballers (back) Catherine Hughes, Jenny Gardner, Michelle Hyndman, Lauren Kavanagh, Kylie Lush, Simon O’Shanessy, Elaine Kos and Linda McLeish, (front) Andrea Boon, Meagan Atkins and Angie Rider were a happy lot in Melbourne after their recent grand-final win.GIPPSLAND Storm State League Netball Club has qualified to field teams in two divisions in Victorian State League Netball next season.
Storm has attempted to qualify for the two divisions for the past three years, but was only able to field one team in the top league until last Wednesday’s success at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne.
The club’s quest for the division-two position started on Sunday, 13 November in the preliminary rounds against 11 rival teams from across Melbourne, split into A and B divisions for the round-robin event.
Storm had strong wins against Palladians and Mountain Districts together with a close result against Altona, ending the set games on top of the ladder in group B, with only one loss to Banyule and Districts.
Metro and VU Flames qualified out of group A for the series of knockout finals one Sunday afternoon with Storm and Altona from group B.
Storm and Altona were the two victorious teams out of this final group, qualifying for the grand final on Wednesday night.
Kylie Lush, goalshooter for Storm from Neerim Neerim South, injured her ankle during the last game on Sunday against Metro and was sidelined for the final.
Her contribution during the round-robin event was instrumental in securing Storm a place in the final, with Lush’s height, agility and unorthodox style in goal, making her hard for the opposition to stop.
In the final against Altona, Lauren Kavanagh in goal for Storm stepped up a notch against a determined defence.
In the first quarter, Storm gained a three-goal lead with both teams testing each other out and goalers at both ends shooting high percentages.
Storm maintained a slender lead in the second quarter and at half-time, coach Simon O’Shanessy was determined to lift his charges to make a break.
The break came for Storm late in the third quarter through midcourt players Meagan Atkins, Andrea Boon, Angie Rider, supported by defenders Christine Hughes and Michelle Hyndman. This combination took the Altona attack apart, shutting down options and leaving it with few answers.
Altona lost all confidence in the final term with the Storm running out 45 to 31 winners.
Angie Rider played a great captain’s game and Michelle Hyndman in defence played one of the best games of her career.
O’Shanessy said that winning the second-division spot had given the club much more depth in senior ranks.
The club will now look at finishing the current spring season with many promising juniors in finals at Waverley over the next few weeks.
The club’s annual training camp at Coalville will be in late January.
