Tigers hunting Preliminary Final spot

TORQUAY’S road back to the top of the Bellarine Netball League (BNL) mountain will need to go through finals newcomers Queenscliff this Sunday (August 27) in a do-or-die Semi Final matchup in Portarlington.

Tigers head coach Sonia Harris said her side will need to replicate the composure it produced in last Sunday’s Elimination Final win against Barwon Heads, to defeat the Coutas and earn a Preliminary Final berth.

“Queenscliff is definitely a dark horse, they have a really good team and I’m not surprised they finished the season in third.

“We will need everything in our arsenal to try and beat them for sure, they’re definitely a quality side.”

The Tigers and Coutas split their season encounters with Queenscliff taking the Round Two contest and Torquay answering back with a win in Round 11.

“They love the contest, they really back themselves in the contest, almost like they’ve got nothing to lose,” Harris said.

“They’ve got really good engine room along with strong attacking and defending players.

“They’ve got goalers that want the ball and defenders that hunt the ball really well.”

Tigers defender Bridget Aughton defended staunchly with teammate Sophie Crichton in last weekend’s win against Barwon Heads, helping to limit the Seagulls to two scoring periods of nine goals or less.

Torquay shooters Daisy O’Kane (35 goals) and Rhian Moresi (nine goals) handled the scoring task well at the other end and will hope to do the same come Sunday.

“We’re going to need to win battles all over the court this weekend, in finals you need to win all positions, or at least 90 per cent of them to get over the line,” Harris said.

“Saying that, Bridget had a terrific game last week, she loves the contest, she thrives on it, the more physical it gets, the harder she works, which is a good thing in finals.

“Daisy and Rhian remained composed as well, but I just thought everybody was a contributor on the day, I don’t think there was anyone that didn’t contribute in some way and that’s what you hope for in finals.”

Queenscliff and Torquay’s game on Portarlington’s main court begins on Sunday from 2.30pm.

The winner will face either Geelong Amateur or Ocean Grove next Saturday in the Preliminary Final.