Sport

MNL | Magpies, Lions to meet in under-13 decider

By Bransen Gibson

Sep 15, 2022

On the ball: Moama’s Hannah Finn in action for the under-13s earlier this season. Photo: Supplied

Moama has been the standout side in the Murray Netball League’s 13 & under division this season, and now the Magpies are looking to finish on a high with a grand final win on Saturday.

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The Magpies finished on top of the ladder after the home-and-away season, suffering just one loss all year.

And now they will be hoping to cap off a stellar season off with a premiership.

Standing in their way is Mulwala — a team the Pies have bested twice already this season, but which is also the only side to beat Moama this year.

“The first time we met them we won by two goals, it was quite close,” under-13 coach Carri Carter said.

“The second time they beat us by 11, it was a big turnaround. But then we won in the second semi-final by 11, so it has been quite inconsistent when we have met them.

“We have six top age and six bottom age players in under-13s, so it is about trying to get the dynamics right out on the court. Last time we got that right, so hopefully we will be able to do that again on Saturday.”

Carter said she thought Diaz Agg, who finished runner-up in the under-13s league best-and-fairest last weekend, and Amelie Pearce, will be two of the key players for the Pies.

“Diaz plays at both ends — goal attack or goal defence, wherever we need her,” Carter said.

“She plays on their key player most of the time to shut them down.

“Amelie is our goal shooter and in that second semi she shot 28 out of 34 goals, so she is going to have a big role to play as well.”

Carter said she had loved seeing her team bond as the year had gone on, adding that a premiership win would be the cherry on top of a great season.

“The players have become a really tight-knit group. We have done lots of things together, it is not just netball on a Saturday,” she said.

“They have had sleepovers and we climbed Pyramid Hill together.

“They are developing as a team off the court, as well as on the court.

“I can feel their excitement. I got really emotional when they won the second semi because I was so proud of them all, and I think they are all proud of each other.

“If we win, it would make their bond even stronger.”