Sport
10 September, 2024
Magpies bow out of Bendigo finals as Storm prove too good
Maryborough’s brave finals run has ended at the hands of Strathfieldsaye on Sunday afternoon, both in the 17 and under grade and the A reserve competition.
The 17 and under girls started off the day at Queen Elizabeth Oval determined to avoid an early exit at the hands of their finals conquerers last year in the Storm, and for four quarters, nothing could separate either team.
In the end, the game was sent into extra time, with both teams throwing everything into getting the win.
However, Strathfieldsaye would roar home, taking a two-goal victory, 61-59, ending the Magpies’ season in heartbreak.
While a straight sets exit wasn’t the ideal result for the Magpies, it’s a season they could take great pride from, having won 11 games and regularly maintaining a challenge for Golden Square and Sandhurst.
Later in the afternoon, it was the A reserve team’s time to fight it out for a preliminary final spot.
Having lost to the Storm twice this season, the Magpies had a nothing-to-lose attitude, and they were able to stay in the game for long periods of time.
However, the class of the Storm was telling throughout the game, getting their noses in front at crucial junctures, then getting the stops they needed to in order to secure their 10-goal victory, 51-41, and earning a preliminary final berth against Sandhurst.
The loss marks the end of what has been a terrific season for the Magpies.
Despite the drop into A reserve, the call to do so was the right one for the team going forward, having won 10 games, including their memorable elimination final victory against Kangaroo Flat.
The season isn’t quite over for Maryborough just yet, with the vote count for the under 18s, 17 and under netball, A reserve, B grade and B reserve announced last night, as well as the rising star winners for football and netball, with Ella Patten a finalist in the netball rising star, and Kaian Constable a finalists in the football rising star.