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Photos: Zoe Bennell
There was an impressive turnout in the tent on Sunday evening to watch Halifax perform an unbelievable come back to defeat a strong James side 37-36 in the final of the college netball Varsity qualifiers. There was an excited atmosphere and expectations of a great match. However, no one could have predicted the spectacular display of netball that would follow.
The first quarter saw Halifax start strongly; keeping possession well and taking a good lead through some impressive shots from GS Becky Gabbitas to give them an early lead of 11-6. James were never too far behind them, always looking dangerous in attack with centre Ellie Redwood linking up with the attackers but they couldn’t convert as many chances as their opponents. In the second quarter the excitement began to build as both teams showed great displays of passing with Halifax GA Emily Woodings finishing off intricate team play with sterling finishing.
With the score at 16-11, James began to press, and crept back into the game with Halifax’s lead beginning to look vulnerable as it became the turn of James’s attackers to show their great shooting accuracy. The first half became very tight but James fought back to draw level and went into the break in the lead with a great attack to make the score 18-17 to James.
James continued in this vein in the third quarter and began to dominate. They looked strong in creating shots for their attackers and both GA Sam Hall and GS Alison Pullun made easy work of these chances, giving them a seemingly comfortable lead of 31-23 with Halifax appearing to fade and lose their eye for the net. The last quarter turned the game into a frenzy with a string of early goals from Halifax; Gabbitas and Woodings finding their feet again to reduce the deficit to 31- 27. The team talk before the final quarter seemed to have spurred them into fifth gear with James unable to keep possession from them.
James as ever were strong in attack though and at 34-29 up with five minutes remaining, many would have thought they could see the game out. Halifax had other ideas and an unbelievable string of attacks saw them claw their way level to make the score 35-35 with three minutes remaining and in the final moments of a terrific match of netball they stole the win in dramatic fashion, winning the game 37-36, earning them a top qualifying spot for College Varsity next month.
James captain Ellie Redwood was gracious in defeat and told Vision ‘It was a really great match and they deserved to win’. Halifax hailed Becky Gabbitas as their star player, while their captain admitted to Vision ‘We lost it a bit in the 3rd but we had a little chat, kept our heads up and just played as a team which is why we won’.