The Crows have yet to drop a game this year and the side will be hoping it is no different come Saturday morning when they take on Collingullie-Glenfield Park in the premiership match. 

Leeton-Whitton previously defeated the Demons by a solitary point a fortnight ago to make the grand final in what was one of their toughest matches of the season so far. 

Coach Rachal Broadbent was expecting no different this weekend, but had the faith her team would rise to the occasion.

“Last time we played them wasn’t our best game … the girls got a little bit overawed by the occasion I think,” she said. 

“However, in saying that I know they are ready to go this weekend. 

“They are a good bunch of girls and they know what they have to do.”

While Leeton-Whitton’s C grade have been the team to beat all season, it will all count for nothing come Saturday if they can’t get the victory over Collingullie-Glenfield Park. 

The team has been training hard since their last encounter, which landed them straight in the grand final. 

On Thursday night they had a match with B grade, who were knocked out of the finals race last weekend. 

The side has been training at the Leeton Indoor Stadium in preparation for the match, which be held at the Narrandera stadium. 

The noise inside can be deafening and Broadbent said her team was better off for the experience two weeks ago when they played at Narrandera. 

“I think they’ll be fine with it … they just need to focus on what they are doing,” she said. 

“It’s always very noisy in there and it can be easy to get carried away with it. 

“We’ll just need to settle and play our own game. If the girls can do that, we’ll be right.” Leeton-Whitton supporters have been urged to head to Narrandera early to get behind C grade. 

Their match starts at 10.10am. A reserve will also play Collingullie-Glenfield Park later in the day at 12.45pm. 

LEETON-WHITTON’S C grade team will be out to defend their title on Saturday against Collingullie-Glenfield Park. 

The Crows took out the premiership last year and will be hoping to do the same this weekend. 

The match will be played in very different conditions compared to last year when the grand final was held at Robertson Oval in Wagga in the cold, wet and windy outdoor weather. 

This year the premiership matches have been moved back to their traditional home at the Narrandera Sportsground, with netball to once again be played indoors at the complex’s stadium. 

AFTER having two weeks off thanks to the bye and finishing as the minor premiers, C grade haven’t had much time on the court in recent weeks. 

Their last match was against Collingullie-Glenfield Park, who are their opponents this weekend. 

That match went down to the wire. 

“The girls were down all day and, it was only in the last minute of the game that our defenders intercepted a ball in the opposition’s goal circle,” coach Rachal Broadbent said. 

“We fed the ball down and converted from this.

“It was then our centre and again we converted. April Schmetzer and Meg Wakeman were outstanding for the Crows, as well as Maggie Maguire.”

The final score was 32-31 in favour of the Crows. 

WITH the match expected to be a physical one, Broadbent said she would be counting on her team to gather their thoughts and settle early on in the match. 

“We do have a good mix of players,” she said. 

“If we can get into playing our game early and just holding onto the ball, we should able to bring it home. 

“It’s definitely going to take a four-quarter performance.”

Working in Leeton-Whitton’s factor is having Clare Van Wervan back on deck. 

Van Wervan missed the first final against the Demons and her skills will no doubt come in extra handy this weekend. 

She will provide a tall option in the shooter’s circle and will no doube provide a headache for the opposition’s defence. 

With temperatures expected to climb over 30 degrees on Saturday, Broadbent said this wouldn’t be a factor given the match starts at 10.10am and the fact it is being played indoors. 

The team trained for the final time on Thursday.

“We’re all going over there together on the bus … we’re very much a little family,” Broadbent said. “It’s been that way all season with the C and B grade squads.”

BROADBENT said the last thing she would be telling her players before they take to the court on Saturday would be to “have fun and embrace it”. 

She said obviously the goal was to bring home the premiership trophy, but it was also important to take stock of the moment. 

“The girls all know what they have to do … I’m fully confident in them,” Broadbent said. 

The 2017 Leeton-Whitton C grade team: 

Claire Van Wervan: Tall shooter main focus in the circle.

Jess O’Hallorhan: Defends to the line and great feeder.

Maggie Maguire: Comes from the under 15s. She is an accurate shot and steady feeder.

Sarah McCrae: Tight defender and great guider.

Bree McGregor: Runs all day and is a positive talker.

Lynda Rhodes: Shuts the WA down and keeps going all day.

Paris Crelley: Does not stop. Quick off the mark.

April Schmetzer: Beautiful clear intercept.

Meg Wakeman: Great circle defender and rebounds all day. 

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