After missing out on an Illawarra title on Saturday, representative player Amanda Bergin has her sights firmly fixed on Metro League success on Tuesday.
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The Illawarra association thrust two teams into the Sydney mid-week competition this year, becoming instant forces in their divisions.
And while the division one squad were knocked out after a 46-36 loss to Eastwood-Ryde, their division five counterparts now carry the hopes of the region.
Illawarra meet Hawkesbury on Tuesday in the grand final, having advanced straight through to the decider by beating Sydney’s Inner West 49-45 in the major semi-final.
Inner West were then bundled out by Hawkesbury.
Bergin’s Illawarra A1 competition team, the Fairy Meadow Soldiers was beaten by Southern Suburbs Cobras 46-29 on Saturday.
“It was disappointing, but they played really well,” she said.
“They just really strong and quick from the start.
“Hopefully we can win on Tuesday, it would be a great way to finish the season.”
Wests Titans claimed the coveted Illawarra Premier League title on Saturday, outlasting Fairy Meadow Enguistics 43-39. The Titans held a narrow advantage for much of the contest, with their defensive duo of Emily Osborne and Annabel Bretag making it difficult for Fairy Meadow to find a way to goal.
Wests had previously beaten minor premiers Fairy Meadow 46-40 to make it straight through to the grand final, before Enguistics qualified by edging out Shellharbour Sporties 38-35 in last week’s preliminary final.
Both Fairy Meadow and Wests had lost just two games during the regular season.
In the A1 competition, the Cobras finished on top of the competition, but had to do it that hard way, when Soldiers won the major semi-final 41-35.
But Cobras turned the tables when it mattered, having overcome Woonona Phoenix to make it through.
Bergin said Hawkesbury would prove difficult to topple in Tuesday’s Metro League decider.
“It would be great win one,” she said.
“It’s been a pretty successful season in the Metro League in both divisions, we’d love to finish with a trophy.”
- ILLAWARRA NETBALL
Metro League, division five
Grand final, Tuesday (8.30pm)
ILLAWARRA v HAWKESBURY
Premier league, grand final
WESTS TITANS 43 d FAIRY MEADOW ENGUISTICS 39
A1 division, grand final
SOUTHERN SUBURBS COBRAS 46 d FAIRY MEADOW SOLDIERS 29
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
