Kojonup booked themselves a ticket to the Katanning Netball Association A-grade grand final with a fiery second half earning them the preliminary final win over Olympians on Saturday.
Kojonup, who finished the home-and-away season second on the ladder, were defeated by Allstars in the qualifying final and were left to fight their way through to earn their grand final spot, facing Olympians on Saturday after they ended Dumbleyung’s hopes in the elimination final.
Olympians wasted no time getting down to business and in the opening quarter, carving out a slim two-goal lead and managing to keep hold of it until the first change, finishing the first term three goals ahead.
They kept pushing in the second, hoping to make their early work count and maintain their leading margin, with shooting duo Brenna Schloithe and Jayde Wolfe adding a combined 11 goals to their haul to keep their side ahead, leaving Olympians ahead by two goals at half-time.
Kojonup came out firing after the long break, determined not to let the game slip away from them.
Two quick goals from Sheridan Kowald brought the scores level at 26-all, and the two sides went goal for goal for the rest of the quarter with both teams working to get ahead but neither able to break away.
Scores sat at 36-all to end the third term, setting up a fierce final quarter of play.
Kowald remained in the circle and starred for Kojonup, netting five goals before Olympians could muster a reply, giving her side the crucial edge they needed to find their rhythm and forge ahead.
Olympians tried to keep their earlier confidence, but by midway through the final term it was becoming clear that Kojonup had found an unstoppable stride, adding 16 goals to their haul to walk off winners 52-42.
The win earned Kojonup the last remaining ticket to the grand final, leaving them to face undisputed top side Allstars, the team they have been struggling against all season. The sides will walk out again in a rematch of last season’s grand final.
Allstars claimed a confident win over Kojonup in the A-reserves preliminary final, walking off winners 37-17 to book themselves a grand final spot.
The B-grade saw another hard-fought game between Kojonup and Olympians, with Kojonup managing to come out on top for a second time, finishing as winners 41-36.
Olympians recorded a confident 51-42 win over Cardinals Phoenix in the C-grade, ending Cardinals’ finals campaign.
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