HOW does it feel to win a seventh consecutive Orange Netball Association division one grand final?
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Just ask Robin Hood coach Cindy Gilchrist who watched her players beat Life Studio 52-44 in Saturday’s Orange Toyota Cup decider.
“It feels sweeter,” Gilchrist smiled, with tears welling in her eyes.
“It was pretty awesome.
“The standard of play has improved out of sight.”
And Gilchrist was right.
Saturday’s grand final between the competition’s heavyweights was one of the toughest seen in the last decade.
Almost every ball was contested and, at times, getting the centre pass away was near impossible.
The defence across the entire court, from both sides, was outstanding and neither team could be accused of holding back.
Robin Hood had the stronger start and pulled out to a 9-5 lead before going up 14-7 at the first break.
Life Studio won the second half 16-11 but were still trailing 25-23 at the main break.
Six-time defending champions Robin Hood were able to get a small 40-35 break going into the final period.
Life Studio scored the first five goals of the final quarter to level to scores at 40-all.
If Robin Hood were rattled they didn’t show it and managed to lift and go on to score the eight-goal victory.
“We’d go into a lapse of concentration at certain parts of the game. I knew if we stayed in front at half-time, it was ours,” Gilchrist said.
“We said they (Life Studio) will always come back, they won’t give up. But I guess we dug a little deeper.”
Life Studio captain Mardi Aplin said it was a case of missed opportunities for her side.
“We had it a few times,” Aplin said of the chance to go on and win.
“We were quite consistent across the court. We had patches of brilliance and patches which weren’t as good.”
As expected, Tegan Dray was outstanding for Robin Hood in the centre court and Erin Johnstone was on target in the goal circle. Narelle Taylor and Sammie Spicer were strong in defence for the champs.
It was a similar story for Life Studio, with Sheryll Selwood and Em Brotherton, who succumbed to an ankle injury late in the game, excellent in defence, while Jacky Lyden and Emily Callaway were great in attack in the second half.
It was the sixth year in a row these two sides have met in the top grade grand final, with Robin Hood coming out on top each time.
However, it was Robin Hood’s seventh consecutive crown after they accounted for High A in the 2008 decider.
The Bill Knight Trophy for the ONA’s top volunteer went to Bernie Bird, while Sarah Clunes won the Umpire’s Award.