On Saturday, the 100 junior netball teams that started the season met for the Grand Finals of the Hastings Valley Netball Association.
Twenty-two teams from across the Hastings and Camden Haven, with players aged from 10 through 18, played through the day in tricky windy conditions.
Most games were very close, with a few undefeated teams going down during the final quarter.
Wauchope were the outstanding club of the series, with 12 of their 13 Junior teams making an appearance in the Grand Final matches.
The final game of the day was the Division 1 Grand Final between Saints Boost and Wauchope Lyrebirds. Carrying a strong contingent of representative players, this was the standout match of the day.
Wauchope returned to the Grand Final arena after a two-year absence, while Saints Boost were under the pressure of being Division 1 champions since 2006.
At the end of the first quarter, Wauchope gave Saints a huge advantage by being behind 8 goals to 18. The 10-goal lead was achievable to rein in over the following three quarters. Saints held their defence, while Wauchope pushed their attack.
The 10-goal lead remained at half-time (18-28). At three-quarter time, Saints increased the lead to 11 goals, the difference (32-43).
Wauchope continued to fight back, but Saints held out to end the game with 57 goals to Wauchope’s 46.
