In-form Royals Saints march to grand final

Royals Saints 1 bundled last season’s premiers Magpies 1 out of the finals in straight sets after a strong four-quarter performance in Saturday’s Albany Netball Association A1 preliminary final.

Magpies, who had just six players on the court at stages of last week’s second semifinal loss, fielded a full complement of players to start the final and nothing separated the two sides as they went in at eight goals apiece at quarter time.

From there however, Royals Saints took control of the match as they won the next three quarters on their way to a convincing 11-goal victory to set up a clash with the in-form Kangas 1 in next week’s grand final.

Led by defenders Lisa Amess and Paige Aggiss, Royals Saints rebounded extremely well in the second quarter. Centre Kathryn Jennings gave plenty of supply to shooters Ashleigh Smith and Nardia Humphries, the latter netting 10 of her 11 attempts in the period.

Leading by three goals at the main break, Royals Saints maintained their advantage early in the second half with Jennings working tirelessly and Aggiss again causing multiple intercepts in the back half.

The injection of player-coach Carly Szczecinski had an immediate effect as she shot at 100 per cent in the third for eight goals to go with Humphries’ seven from 11, as Royals Saints skipped out to a five-goal advantage.

Magpies star Kelly Judd was superb in the third and sharpshooter Summer Stirling nailed 11 goals from 12 attempts, but her side lost Ash Crock late in piece when she landed heavily, injuring her neck.

Needing a big final quarter, Magpies simply couldn’t go with Royals Saints, who further extended their advantage to eventually win 51-40, the biggest margin of the game.

Narelle Humphries was outstanding in the last quarter at wing defence to go with terrific performances from Aggiss and Amess.

At the other end, Nardia Humphries finished with 31 goals at almost 80 per cent efficiency, while Szczecinski chipped in with 13 goals from 14 attempts in the second half.

“I asked the girls to work really hard in the first 15 minutes and they did,” Szczecinski said.

“Their work rate in defence was spot on and Ash and Nardia shot really well. From the first game to this game the improvement as individuals and as a team is huge and we are coming together at the right part of the year.”

For the Magpies, Judd was again brilliant in midcourt while Sophie Bacon-Lewis toiled hard and Stirling was ever-reliable in the goal circle with 27 goals from 36 attempts.

Magpies coach Lisa Goodliffe said her side struggled with injury at the wrong time of the season.

“That definitely wasn’t what we expected,” she said. “We couldn’t pin it back, previously this year we could be behind and fight back but we didn’t have a lot to draw back on at the end.

“It is disappointing but I think they did well considering.”