Tigers upset Coutas to win spirited Semi

TORQUAY has upset Queenscliff to secure a Preliminary Final meeting with Ocean Grove after a thrilling win in today’s (Sunday, August 25) Bellarine Netball League Semi-Final.

The Tigers staved off a last-minute attack from the Coutas to hang on by a lone goal in Portarlington, eliminating Queenscliff 45-46, who bow out of the finals race after back-to-back losses.

Torquay took the early advantage in the first quarter, leading 8-12, and then slightly extended their lead to 20-25 at half time.

Jane Searle’s side needed to respond in the third quarter and evened the ledger at 35-35 with 15 minutes to play.

Leading by as many as four goals with only a couple of minutes remaining on the clock, Torquay let their lead slip with the game tied at 45-45.

With the next goal winning the game, the ball ended up in the hands of Torquay shooter Elisa Hall, who duly converted.

Hall was again a key player for the Tigers, finishing the four quarters with 35 goals, while skipper Rhian Moresi added 11 goals of her own.

Tess Orvis tallied a team-high 28 goals and Kaitlin Gladman scored 17 goals in her efforts, both of whom were named best-on-court alongside Ebony Rolph.

Hall, Lauren Berridge and Kiralee Collins were named the same for the Tigers.

Torquay next faces reigning premiers Leopold next Saturday in a rematch of that same game, with the Lions also hoping to reach its first Grand Final in five years.

The winner of next week’s fixture will play an undefeated Geelong Amateur in a fortnight at Leopold Memorial Reserve in the season’s decider.