The Blues turned around a 13-goal loss to Mulwala only two weeks ago to win by four goals in the elimination first semi-final, held at Numurkah Showgrounds.
“We went into the game knowing it was going to be tough, especially (after) they got us both times during the season, but like I touch on every time, we’ve got that never-say-die attitude,” Tongala coach Grace Hammond said.
“It’s who showed up on the day, and Mulwala really put it to us, but we just chipped away and kept to our brand of netball, so I could not have asked for anything more out of the girls.
“I know that they gave it their all, and we were able to come away with the win.”
Tongala led most of the way but couldn’t shake the Lions until the final term.
The Blues edged two goals ahead at quarter time, and built on that advantage in the second to take a five-goal lead into the main break.
Mulwala refused to go away, and some missed attacking opportunities from Tonny allowed the Lions to level the scores at three-quarter time.
However, the championship quality of the 2023 premiers would shine through over the final 15 minutes.
Hammond refocused her side during the break and the squad responded.
“I just had a chat to the girls and I said it’s about remaining positive and playing our game,” Hammond said.
“We probably got a little bit antsy in that third quarter, and when someone stuffs up a pass or you run to the wrong spot, we already know that so we just really nailed in on keeping each other up and about and staying focused on why we were there, to win the game, and not so much focusing on what we could have done.
“I think that was a really big momentum shifter for us, and we were able to get our flow back and get back on top of the game.”
The Lions’ nerves got the best of them in the final term, and several attacks ended in a stepping call or a loose pass.
Conversely, the Blues looked confident and composed, bursting ahead to start the quarter and holding firm in the closing minutes to win 41-37.
Hammond praised the performance of her whole squad but gave particular credit to Corey Drennan, who she felt gave everything in trying to contain dangerous Mulwala coach Steph Hammond.
Tongala has now made it to the final three for the third straight year, fighting through the third-sixth bracket in the past two to reach the prelim.
“I think it just comes down to our attitude that regardless of where we finish on the ladder, we don’t let that determine how we go into finals,” Hammond said.
“We know it’s a clean slate, everyone starts on zero again, and you’ve just got to win week to week.
“Our attitude’s a big thing with that, but the support from our supporters as well.
“They believe in us just as much as we do each other, so we take it week by week, we go in and we never stop until that final whistle, regardless of the result.”
Tongala will now face off with Nathalia in a preliminary final, after the Purples couldn’t end Rumbalara’s unbeaten streak in the second semi-final, going down 41-35.
Rumba’s only loss in the past two seasons came as the result of an ineligible player disqualification late last season, so whoever emerges from the preliminary final on Saturday at Nathalia Recreation Reserve will be a heavy underdog on the final day.
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