Strong start lifts Olympians to A-grade premiership in Katanning Netball Association

Olympians 1 have been crowned 2021 A-grade premiers in the Katanning Netball Association after prevailing in a terrific grand final against inter-town rivals Allstars 1. Allstars pushed the minor premiers right to the final whistle but the star-studded Olympians finished 13-goal winners to claim the title. Bursting out of the blocks from the opening whistle, Olympians’ goal shooter Sophie Wolfe made a statement by netting the first four goals of the game, giving her side a healthy buffer from the outset. Supported by lightning quick ball movement through centre court on the back of Samara Nicholson, Olympians’ goal keeper Georgia Kowald was dominant in the air to keep the ball out of the Allstars’ goal circle. The Olympians were dominant in the first and blew the game out but a resilient Allstars, led by the quick Miriam Bolton at wing-attack, fought back in the second quarter and made it a tussle as they reduced the margin to 10 goals at half-time. Annie-Rose Julius replaced Jayde Wolfe at wing defence for Olympians in the third in an attempt to limit the influence of Bolton. The game turned up a notch as high defensive pressure from both sides led to tight aerial contests for the ball, with players hitting the floor hard as a result. Despite being subbed off, Wolfe’s presence was still heard from the bench as her vocal support helped her teammates keep the intensity on the court high as the Olympians maintained a 10-goal buffer going into the final break. Allstars came with a point to prove in the final quarter, maintaining most of possession in the opening few minutes and slotting a couple of big goals through goal shooter Zoe Keley. But while Allstars held the upper hand through the centre of court, Kowald came up strong in the final term with a clutch block and crucial defensive efforts to stem the momentum of the Allstars and help her side maintain a healthy gap in the dying stages. On the final whistle Sophie Wolfe ended the game as she started it, slotting home the winning shot and Olympians came home with the shield as a result of their 54-41 victory. Kowald was named fairest and best for her superb grand final performance and Maeve O’Brien from Cardinals was announced as the fairest and best A-grade for the season.