This Is Guernsey

ROOS emerged as champions as the netball Super League had the fantastic grand final it merited on Sunday.

The showpiece occasion had drama right to the end with Panthers playing their full part in a thrilling see-saw battle at Beau Sejour.

Both sides have an abundance of junior players in their ranks and they all stepped up to the plate. In fact, the whole of the attack line for Roos was aged just 17 or under and they showed great composure under immense pressure.

Roos started the better and they soon took a lead 9-4 but in the second quarter Panthers seemed to settle.

Experienced players Tracie Hards, the GD for Roos, and Denise Bourgaize, Panthers’ GA, were pitted against each other and the game was tough in all areas.

Young Sam Martin, in the Panthers circle, started to find her range, but any missed shots were swept up by Hards and sent down court where the battle of the centres took place, with Carrie Dodd (Panthers) and Lyndsey Bougourd (Roos) not giving an inch.

However, Panthers started to erode the lead of Roos and at half-time Panthers had taken the lead 16-13.

This continued in the third quarter with Panthers still fighting for every ball.

The game became a little scrappy as passes went astray, but Roos dug deep, made the most of their opportunities and pulled back a goal to trail 22-20 going into the last.

The fourth quarter provided a fitting climax to the campaign.

Roos stole the first centre pass and pulled back one of the goals and from their next centre they scored to level the game.

The play got more and more frantic, but, as in the third, it was Roos who made the most of their opportunities.

They took a two-goal lead, only again to see it disappear as Panthers pulled back in the dying minutes.

Panthers had the chance to go ahead, but two missed shots at goal were to prove very costly and the young Roos shooters, Jenny Craze and Steph Batiste, both scored at vital moments to win the game.Praxis Super League finals day: Youngsters step up to the plate on showpiece occasion

Article posted on 24th December, 2009 - 2.29pm