They are fierce rivals on court but fun remains the name of the game for Maitland netball A-grade grand finalists Hills Solicitors and The George Tavern.
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Saturday’s big game is the two teams fourth grand final in a row against each other and two of the key players in deciding the outcome will be Hills forward Mel Morris and George defender Laura Nolan.
The two players took part in a the traditional grand final preview photo shoot on Thursday and admitted after so many clashes over the years both teams knew each other’s game so well that the result would come down to who played best on the day.
Nolan said Hills had been ready on the day in their 40-goal hammering of The George in the major semi-final, but her team had built confidence from last week’s preliminary final win against Club Maitland City.
“We have not been at our best, but hopefully with our full team apart from Kelly-Ann Grayson we will peak for the grand final,” she said.
“We need to improve a lot from the last time we met, but we weren’t switched on and Hills were.”
History suggests that the grand final will be a much closer affair, with The George winning 36-35 in the 2015, Hills 51-49 winners in 2016 and the George winning 36-34 last year.
Hills have been the stand-out team in A-grade for the past decade, winning seven of the past eight minor premierships, but that amazing run has netted just two grand final wins.
“Our record in grand finals hasn’t been great. I think we have been guilty of taking it to seriously and getting anxious about the result rather than just having fun and playing the way we normally do,” Morris said.
“It’s been an amazingly consistent run of success, but really the major focus for us in all that time has been having fun playing together.
“We are a really tight group of friends and love playing netball with each other each Saturday and getting out together on the town.
“It’s funny but whatever the result I think the thing we are looking forward to most as a team is the party afterwards.
“We’d normally have three or four gatherings for just the girls, but this will be our first chance this year.”
Nolan said The George was taking a similar philosophy into the game.
But come 3pm on Saturday the contest will be as fierce as ever.
“I think both teams have believe what happens on court stays on court,” Nolan said. “I know that there will be plenty of physical stuff, but that’s the way both teams love to play.
“Mel and I will be at it from the start. I think we both thrive on that. You cop a hit but there’s no complaining you just make sure you get the next one in.”
Morris said she wasn’t too comfortable with the stand alone starting time for the A-grade grand final.
“I can understand they are wanting to promote the game as a showcase, but I’d like to think that every grand final on the day is equally important.
“We’ve also been guilty of putting too much pressure on ourselves in grand finals. It is what it is and we just have to go into the game and have fun – that’s how we play our best.”
Throughout the ranks there will be numerous other rivalries playing out, some built up over years others in just a season.
Tigerlillies and Red M&Ms have competed against each other for the past two years and meet in Saturday’s 12 years division 1 grand final.
Tigerlillies are undefeated across the season and finals to date and are chasing their second premiership in the three years they have played finals. Red M&Ms have dropped just three games, all to Tigerlillies.
A1: Hills Solicitors v The George Tavern, Court 25, 3pm
A2: Black Mamba v Nexus Power Comets, Court 25, 1pm
A3: Flames v Red Hot, Court 33, 2.30pm
A4: MRBNC Black Ice v Kaos, Court 33, 1pm
B1: Tumbleweeds v MRBNC Regatta Blacks, Court 28
B2: Cougars v Dream Team, Court 28, 1pm
B3: Storm v Impact, Court 32, 2.30pm
B4: 50 Shades of Awesome v All Sorts, Court 32, 1pm
C1: HMT v Spirits, Court 22, 2.30pm
C2: Hills Storm v Purple Poppies, Court 22, 1pm
T1: Rebels v Serenity, Court 24, 2.30pm
T2: Force v HVGS Luna, Court 24, 1pm
T3: Lil Bratz v Firestorm, Court 24, 11.30am
Inter 1: MRBNC Black Onyx v Zeal, Court 25, 11.30am
Inter 2: Braidy Bunch v Embers, Court 28, 10am
Inter 3: VIP's v Jinx, Court 22, 11.30am
Inter 4: Clovers v Fanatics, Court 22, 10am
12-1 Tigerlillies v Red M&M's, Court 25, 10am
12-2: Garnetts v The Walkie Talkies, Court 33, 11.30am
11-2: Mini Bees v Moon Beans, Court 32, 10am
11-1: Crazy Comets v RBs, Court 32, 11.30am
11-3: HVGS Stars v Tanzanites, Court 34, 10am
10-1: Bluebelles v Shooting Stars, Court 33, 10am
10-2: Haviannas v Starburst, Court 28, 11.30am