MNL | Gallery | Deniliquin fends off Rumbalara in gripping second semi-final

Trailing by two goals at three-quarter time, the Rams would produce a stirring final-quarter fightback to win their way into the grand final, with the heroics of coach Rhiannan Maxwell in the goal circle keeping her team’s hopes of a perfect season alive.

In what was undoubtedly the match of the season to date in terms of quality and drama, Maxwell said it was a relief to get over the line and secure that grand final berth.

“It is such a great feeling (to be in the grand final), we have worked so hard all season and for that to pay off in such a big game is very pleasing,” Maxwell said.

“I am so proud of the effort all the girls put in today, Rumbalara are a very good team and they threw everything at us, so to stand up under that pressure shows how far we’ve come as a team this year.

“We can’t wait for the opportunity to play in a grand final and will give it everything we’ve got.”

As the spring sun beamed down on Finley Recreation Reserve, both teams quickly showed why they occupied the top two positions on the ladder, with the intensity up from the first whistle.

And having lost to the Rams in both their meetings this season, Rumba were out to prove a point in the early stages, pressuring their highly-fancied opposition into uncharacteristic mistakes as they went about building an early lead.

One of the few occasions the Rams had been truly challenged this season, the packed crowd could sense an epic semi-final upset as Rumbalara maintained its lead throughout the second and third quarters, with the teams constantly trading blows in what was an epic showing of A-grade netball.

Facing the proposition of a first loss of the season at the final change, Maxwell explained her mindset leading into the fourth quarter.

“We just needed to run our feet to the ball and we needed to get more ball back in our hands,” she said.

“Our defence had been really good all day, so the last quarter was about making the most of the opportunities they were giving us in the attack end.”

With a spot in the grand final up for grabs, Maxwell proved why she is regarded as the league’s premier shooter, as she served as the catalyst for the Rams’ final quarter fightback.

Engaged in an intense battle with Rumba defender Akanisi Seeto, she would make the most of her opportunities around the goal, sinking a number of critical shots to hand her team the lead.

On the defensive side, the Rams also lifted a gear in the closing minutes, forcing a number of Rumbalara players to throw the ball away in key moments down the stretch.

And in what was a stirring final minute, Maxwell would put her team ahead with a clinical close range finish, before Rumbalara’s Natasha Atkinson-Brown missed an opportunity to tie the game with just seconds on the clock.

Now given the benefit of another week off, Maxwell said the intensity of this match would put her team in good stead come grand final day.

“We always knew that Rumbalara were going to come out strong and put us under pressure, so to stand up to that and come away with the win it was super important to our group,” she said.

“They are such an athletic team with so many strengths, so if it is a rematch with Rumba in two weeks’ time we will be expecting another epic contest.”

On Sunday afternoon, Nathalia booked its ticket to the preliminary final with a hard-fought 31-23 win over Moama at Mulwala’s Lonsdale Oval.

The Purples were clinical in their efforts from beginning to finish, with the brave Magpies unable to get any momentum going in attack.

The result now sets up a tantalising preliminary final between Nathalia and Rumbalara this weekend at Deniliquin’s Hardinge Street Oval, with the Purples looking to atone for two losses to Rumba in the home and away season.