Mudgee’s two best netball teams will meet again to decide the premiers of division one.
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Twelve months after Allstar Tanks (2) and Paragon Dropbears went head-to-head in their first grand final contest – won by the Tanks 38-21- the pair are at it again.
Not much has changed since that encounter in 2013, Dropbears finished on top of the table in 2014 with the Tanks just behind them.
Tanks rolled into Saturday’s grand final after dominating the major semi-final 38-30.
It was Tanks’ speed down the court and slick passing that helped them to defeat Paragon two weeks ago.
It will be that tactic, coupled with strong defence and pinpoint shooting, that might have the Tanks as the favourites.
The Allstar club will be looking for their fourth consecutive division one title and sixth in eight seasons.
Tanks’ shooter Payden Lawson said half the side were part of the 2013 premiership-winning team.
“We’ve got four players that played in the grand final last year and four new players for this year,” Lawson said.
“We’re looking forward to a strong game throughout the court in all positions.
“We have strong defence in Shelley Wolthers, Jacinda Spicer and Brooke Colley. Brooke has been suffering from an ankle injury for five weeks.
“Centre court players Shahna Smith, Helena Lawson and Kimberley Sharp. Then we’ve got myself and Cassandra McCarney as the shooters.”
Colley will be one of the keys for the Tanks as she uses her height and strength to cause havoc for opposition shooters.
If she hasn’t overcome her ankle injury, the door might be open far enough for the Dropbears to sneak in.
Jen O’Brien is the key player for the Dropbears.
The goal attack player works well with centre Jasmin McGowan, who feeds the ball between her team-mates up and down the court.
Lawson is cautious of a resurgent Dropbears, still smarting from last year’s grand final loss, in Saturday’s match of the year.
“It is always a strong competition against the Dropbears,” Lawson said.
“We have beaten them once and lost to them once in the round games, then we beat them in the semis.”
The division one final will start at 1pm at Glen Willow Netball Courts.
ALLSTAR TANKS (2): Payden Lawson, Helena Lawson, Shahna Smith, Jacinda Spicer, Cassandra McCarney, Shelley Wolthers, Courtney Brackenrig, Brooke Colley, Kylie Graham, Kimberley Sharp.
PARAGON DROPBEARS: Jen O’Brien, Alison Doyle, Kylie Marshall, Jasmin McGowan, Haylee Robison, Kristen Robison, Hannah Bruton, Amy Segal, Stephanie Martyn, Toni Tiffen.
