ANA 2023: Wrap of the A-grade grand finals and major season awards as Kangas 2 claim A2 title victory

Kangas 2 produced a stirring final term on their way to grand final glory in the Albany Netball Association A2 competition on Saturday afternoon.

Narrikup 2 finished top of the ladder after being undefeated in the regular season and won their qualifying final to progress directly into the decider.

An 11-goal first term gave Narrikup the perfect start in the grand final, as they led Kangas by four going into quarter-time.

Kangas hit back strongly in the second to snatch the lead by half-time and they maintained that advantage in the third.

Narrikup trailed by three goals at the final change but they dug deep in the fourth term and quickly levelled scores.

Kangas, however, through the work of centre Rachael Bradley and goal attack Kaitlyn Bradley, lifted once again as they scored the next seven goals of the game.

Those seven unanswered goals pushed Kangas to a match-winning lead in the final term and they went on to claim a seven-goal triumph in the end.

Narrikup score a couple of late goals but their first loss of the season came in the biggest game, going down 39-46.

Narrikup’s Sara Banks was named best and fairest in the A2 division and Kangas’ Keely Berry was runner-up.

That pair were both named in defence of the A2 Rising Stars team selected by the coaches while Bethel’s Nicole Shephard was also a defender.

Kaitlyn Bradley (Kangas), Te Paea Keremete (Narrikup), Erin Liddle (Narrikup) were picked as shooters while in centre court Rachael Bradley (Kangas), Imogen Gill (Magpies), Tina Mundy (Narrikup) and Paris Wallinger (Bullets) earned selection.

Narrikup 3 were claimed the A3 premiership after a 44-35 win against Kangas 3.

Kangas’ Sophie Panizza was the overall best and fairest with 22 votes from Narrikup’s Courtney White, Griffins’ Kira-Lee Dimer and Magpies’ Natalie Simpson who were joint runners-up with 16.

In the A4 grand final, Narrikup 5 emerged victorious, edging out Cranbrook 2 in a thrilling two-goal finish.

Narrikup held their nerve in the dying moments to win 30-28.

Saska Ellis from Narrikup was the best and fairest for the season from runner-up Courtaney Woods.

Narrikup 6 were crowned A5 winners after a 31-24 triumph over Griffins 6.

The season best-and-fairest award went to Narrikup’s Jasmine Anning with Griffins’ Chelsea Pearson runner-up.

The ANA announced a host of other awards at the conclusion of their grand finals.

Trish Hines was named regional volunteer of the year and the Jamie Gowland Award for service to netball went to Griffins’ Katie Hartzell.

Cheri Muir was the recipient of the Nicole Weeden Volunteer of the Year award while Magpies’ Maggie Hardiman was named emerging coach of the year and coach of the year went to Magpies’ Rosemary Wolter.