The girls did sit among the top level of the competition, however they didn't have it their own way in 2019.

After finishing second on the ladder of the Illawarra 11A competition, the side claimed an extra-time major semi-final victory to progress to last weekend's grand final, where they defeated minor premiers Shellharbour 35-26.

With the two teams so evenly matched, Corrimal coach Christine Smith said her girls were thrilled to come away with the victory.

"It's been a tough season, there's six strong teams in A grade, so the girls were really happy to pull off the win on Saturday," Smith said.

"We were down in the first quarter, but came out really strong after quarter-time. Sometimes after the week off you can be slow to start, but we made a few crucial changes, the girls focused on their job and they played well as a team."

The grand final win came after a challenging season for Corrimal, with the league's other five teams all jostling to topple the defending premiers.

For Smith, this competition forced her side to improve their level of play and resulted in an increase in the overall standard across the board.

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"Having that week in, week out tough competition, it gives you something to focus on and improve your skills as the season unfolds.

"Shellharbour were fantastic competition all year. They showed good sportsmanship and played to a very high standard. For 11-year-olds, the skills they were showing, it's promising for the future of Illawarra netball."

The Corrimal win came on a busy day of Illawarra Netball grand finals, with Shell Storm defeating Wests Diamonds 24-10 in the 10A competition.

The Shell Sparks overcame Dapto Assassins 40-19 in the 12A division, while A1 Intermediates was claimed by Corrimal.

Shell Fever secured the Cadets A premiership with a 52-33 win over Corrimal.

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