Kangas bounce to thrilling final win

Kangas 1 came from behind to beat Magpies 1 in an overtime thriller in the Albany Netball Association A1 grand final 46-53 on Saturday afternoon.

Magpies led for long periods of the contest and by as much as eight approaching half-time, but the two sides could not be separated on 42 goals apiece after four tense quarters.

Kangas led by a single goal at three-quarter-time as the lead changed five times in the final term in the see-sawing contest.

Magpies only lost one game in the regular season - to Kangas - and looked to be about to double their loss tally for the season as they trailed 41-42 with less than a minute to go.

However, a goal by Summer Stirling in the dying stages sent the decider into overtime.

The Magpies were the first to score in the extra period, but from then on it was all Kangas as they led by five points after the first extra period and extended that to seven at the final siren.

Kangas shooters Elle Trevenen and Rani Rawlinson shot their side to victory in overtime as they combined to make 11 goals from 19 attempts.

Kangas coach Fiona Mountford said she was pleased for her side to come away with the win.

"The second half and two periods of overtime really set up the win," she said.

"Rawlinson, our goal shooter, was great, while Bec Ravenhill kept their shooters to a minimum and Brooke Baines did well for the whole game in the centre of the court.

"It was always my intention to play everybody and really needed nine players on such a hot day."

Earlier, Magpies shooter Stirling was busy in the first half, making 15 of 19 attempts to put her side in a strong position approaching the long break, while Sarah Pierce was also influential with 10 goals from 17 attempts.

Kangas only had one shot less than their opponents in the first half, but could not convert as the Magpies dominated long periods of the first half and led by eight goals at half-time with the score at 25-17.

A change of positions after the break helped Kangas as Trevenen moved into the shooting area with immediate success, as she and Rawlinson's accurate shooting drew the scores level midway through the third term.

The Kangas shooting duo made 16 of 21 attempts in the third stanza to give their side the lead 32-31 at the final change.

Rawlinson was awarded the Lucille Holt perpetual trophy for the best player in the grand final after she made 26 of Kangas 1's 53 goals.