Fury and Waratahs to line up in Australian Netball League Grand Final
The Netball NSW Waratahs will take on the unbeaten Victorian Fury in this year’s Australian Netball League (ANL) Grand Final on Sunday following two exciting Semi-Finals in Adelaide.
The Fury qualified for their fifth ANL Grand Final after defeating host’s Southern Force by five goals, 55-50, in one Semi-Final – after trailing at one stage by 14 goals early in the second term – while the Waratahs defeated the Victorian Flames by one goal, 50-49, in the other Semi-Final.
For the Waratahs, it was a repeat of last year’s semi-final where they beat the Western Sting by a goal in the Semi-Finals to qualify for the decider, where they went down to the Force.
The Fury is looking to complete the season undefeated with the Waratahs the only other team to achieve that feat back in 2011.
Fury coach Stacey West said her side is eager to win the title and tonight’s Semi-Final comeback showed what fighting qualities they have.
“We are very keen to ensure we are prepared adequately (for the Grand Final),” West said.
“It was great to have a really tough match against the Force tonight. It showed the group that they can work through any adversity and win.”
West had high praise for her team after their stunning come from behind victory.
“To come from that many goals down to win shows the level of composure in the group,” West said.
“That they didn’t panic, they just built on the game plan each quarter to deliver the outcomes.
“We just plugged away at it and plugged away at it and it was outstanding from the whole team. I used a lot of depth in my bench and it’s a credit to them to be able to come on and off the court and do very well.”
The Fury comfortably beat the Waratahs in their only meeting this season, 62-40 back in week 1 of the competition.
Waratahs assistant coach Maria Lynch, who is standing in for regular coach Sue Hawkins this weekend, said the results of the two Semi-Finals was a great showcase for the competition.
“You couldn’t have asked for two better games at this end of the season,” Lynch said. “So it really shows you the teams come out to play at the business end and it’s exciting to get another crack at the Fury.
“They have been the benchmark team, apart from AIS, and teams have been wanting to have a second crack at them and see how you’ve improved.
“We’ve certainly come on leaps and bounds since that very first game and I think girls got a lot of faith in themselves after tonight’s effort.”
The Grand Final will be played at Adelaide’s Netball SA Stadium at 12 noon tomorrow. The Force and Flames will clash in the play-off for third and fourth at 10am.
