RFNL netball
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THE Crows have three out of four teams through to the Riverina netball grand finals, with only A grade falling at the final hurdle at the weekend.
Leeton-Whitton's A reserve and C grade proceeded through to the season decider after downing Turvey Park and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes respectively.
They have joined the Crows' B grade team, which went through after winning the minor semi-final the previous week.
For A grade coach Nicole Matthews it was a day of mixed emotions, with the team losing after she stepped off court from her successful A reserve playing duties.
Matthews felt the belief wasn't there as Narrandera ran rampant to win 55-42.
"Last week they were really fired up to get out here," she said. "It was hard for me because I wasn't there with them until just before (the game).
"We probably didn't shoot as well and they didn't miss."
The performance was different to the qualifying final loss two weeks earlier, when the Eagles dominated early.
"We were with them at the start," Matthews said.
"But when you're missing and they're not missing, gradually they're pulling away.
"For it to be a big blow out, I thought it would have been a lot closer.
"I remember us getting within nine. They were too good today, which is disappointing, but they were the better side.
"You get this far and you want to go to the end.
"I'm proud of the girls and what they achieved, but it is disappointing when the other three grades make it.
Both A reserve and B grade went into the finals as minor premiers and they used that as motivation not to be knocked out in straight sets.
A reserve coach Shelley Lang said her team prevailed 44-37 in tough conditions.
"It was a tough, hard fought-out game," she said.
"At quarter time it was even and we had a really good second quarter and pulled away by four points."
With defender Kathryn Bechaz out injured, Lang made positional changes before play, moving Ainlsee O'Halloran onto the wing, Sophie Tyson into goal keeper and herself into goal defence.
The teams went goal for goal with scoring mostly going with centre. However, when the Crows did restrict the Bulldogs' scoring through tight defence, they rebounded well to convert those scant opportunities.
"In the third we had a five-minute lull and they got back to within two, then it was four again at three-quarter time," Lang said.
"We pulled away in the last five minutes. It was hard work."
Lang was happy with the overall team effort, noting her players were switched on from the warm-up.
"I had seven people on court who all played excellent," she said.
"I was really proud we won. We hated to finish on top undefeated and go out in straight sets. It was nice to get the reward to play in the grand final.
"We understand the hard work isn't completed yet, but we know what it takes to beat them now."
C grade won through to its grad final with an eight-goal win, which pleased coach Bechaz.
"They played a great team game," she said.
"Three girls didn't get on, but they had a terrific attitude and didn't want to go on because it was working."
The game was close up until half time and after that break the Crows steadily increased their lead.
"The defence was very good all over the court," Bechaz said.
"They got lots of turnovers and they tended to play their own game.
"They did miss a few shots, but they were more consistent."
Bechaz said her side now knows what to expect in the final.
"They turned up with a far better attitude (this week)," she said. They weren't as nervous.
"They didn't want to go out in straight sets because they finished top of the ladder.
"It was a good sign, talking about the game."