Cavaliers have displayed a great resiliency in a return to the State League grand final scene to clinch a 65-59 upset over Northern Hawks.
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The extraordinary scenes at the Silverdome moments after the comeback win were a stark contrast in an historic first all-Launceston affair.
Cavaliers players were left beside themselves and all but overwhelmed after the siren for a side that turned around missing the finals series just two years ago to collecting a premiership.
The Hawks looked shattered that was underlined by a teary captain Danni Pickett in her consolation speech.
That emotion could have somewhat been from scoring the first eight goals without reply and still falling short
Cavaliers Dan Roden just marvelled at his charges in a watershed day for the club.
"I think having five games through the season when we won by one goal really set up us for the match," he said.
"We knew if we were within striking distance and we had the fitness that we knew how to play under pressure and we absorbed it tonight."
The motivation was clear amid on-court celebrations.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
A bruising defeat to their crosstown rivals in last year's preliminary final had hurt.
"We were so disappointed when we played the Hawks - they were much better on the day and that was a little bit of extra incentive," Roden said.
"That day they came out, played better, coached better and this time we have turned the tables. I think that experience, plus those close wins during the year set us up."
The club's first shot on the big stage since 2015 was full of early nerves.
The horror start had been turned around fast, levelling just before half-time, but not before briefly hitting the front inside the last 40 seconds to the break, and then pulling away with eight of the last 13 goals of the third quarter.
On the cusp of the Hawks narrowing the margin late, the Cavaliers run home then became something of a rush.
The 2018 premiers suffered their third grand final loss in four outings.
The first two were to AYC-Friends Arrows but this was the one that got away.
"We've had mixed success, but we learn something from it every time," Hawks coach Ruth Tuohy said.
"The girls will take time to reflect from this and will go again."
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
