Grubbers ready to defend flag after defeating Tigers

OCEAN Grove will get the chance to defend its 2023 premiership in Leopold a week from now, following a strong effort this afternoon (Saturday, August 31) in the Bellarine Netball League (BNL) Preliminary Final.

The Grubbers dominated Torquay at Memorial Park winning the contest 57-41, setting up another Grand Final meeting against Geelong Amateur for a third-straight year.

Ocean Grove wasted no time establishing a big advantage to lead 15-6 at quarter-time and then extending their lead to 13 with a 29-16 buffer at half-time.

Torquay head coach Sonia Harris searched for answers following two quarters but could not find any as Ocean Grove started to run away with the game.

The Grubbers established a 46-28 lead with 15 minutes to play, but Torquay maintained its competitiveness to the final whistle.

The Tigers outscored Mel Holmes’ roster 11-13 in the final quarter, but the result was already decided well in advance, setting up the season decider taking place in seven days’ time.

Rebecca O’Neill tallied 33 goals and Zanna Woods finished with 15 goals in the outing, while Torquay’s scoring duo of Elisa Hall and Rhian Moresi combined for 39 with 30 and nine goals respectively.

Rhiannon Whitson, Georgia Ryan and Woods received best-on-court honours in the match.

Torquay’s season comes to an end after a superb back half of the 2024 campaign, winning its last six games of the home and away season and knocking out top three side Queenscliff in the Semi-Final last week.

Ocean Grove has only lost three games in 2024, all of which have been at the hands of Ammos, but both clubs have new lineups compared to the 2023 decider.

The BNL Grand Final will begin at 3.15pm back at Memorial Park in Leopold.