Second-half blitz and accurate shooting from Narrikup helps them power over Grammar into preliminary final

Narrikup 1 have kept their season alive, defeating Grammar 1 for the second week in a row, this time in their sudden-death elimination final on Saturday. The 20-goal victory helped them progress to the Albany Netball Association preliminary final tonight against Royals Saints 1. At half-time, Narrikup led by just two goals before they produced a second-half blitz to walk away with a comfortable 61-41 victory. Narrikup shooters Casey Greay and Sheridan Kowald broke the game open in the third term, combining for 16 goals from 20 attempts. The victors got on top, scoring 13 of the first 17 goals of the third term to extend the margin to beyond double figures for the time before Grammar fought back, netting four of the next six goals to reduce the margin to nine goals going into the last term. Narrikup had all the answers in the last quarter, netting 15 of the first 20 goals to extend their advantage to beyond 15 goals, with Sheridan Kowald and Greay both netting 10 goals in the final term. Greay ended up with 26 goals from 33 attempts, while Sheridan Kowald shot 35 goals from 49 attempts to be key contributors in the win. Narrikup captain Kristie Slater worked hard in centre court along with Sian Lucas in the second half, while the work of defenders Bree Dale and Maryann McLeod was impressive. The first quarter was tight, with scores level several times before Narrikup edged their way ahead and Grammar moved Georgia Kowald to goal shooter in the second term, where she netted 12 goals. However, Narrikup held strong to go into half time ahead. It was all Narrikup from then on as they netted 36-17 goals in the second half to advance to the preliminary final. Georgia Kowald finished with 25 goals from 46 attempts, while captain Jessica Leamon added 14 from 16 and Casey Griffiths, Molly Dickson and defender Isabella De Giambattista battled hard all game but could not prevent their side from being eliminated.