Despite not training together before the Combined Australia Netball Association national carnival, the Northern Tassie Allies proved an unbeatable force among their competition.
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Featuring six players who played together at State League level, two 14-year-olds, a fellow representative player and a cousin from Shepparton, the put-together side was untouchable but faced its share of difficulties according to assistant coach Ali Gumley.
"The team we played in the grand final, our first game against them, they pushed us a bit and came within 18 points," she said.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"The next time we played them, the power went out as there was an electrical storm at the time and they got within seven.
"We had 10 minutes to play and had to have a 10-minute break off and then we pushed it out to 13."
The grand final proved to be a completely different contest however, as the Northern Tasmanian outfit blazed past the Marlestone All Angels 56-27.
"The girls came out firing from the start. Usually we'd have a slow start and then take off in the third quarter but this time we played our own game from the start and the sportsmanship our girls showed was second to none.
"We had five teams in our competition and every other team we were playing against supported us in the grand final, that's how highly we were regarded for our sportsmanship and for the skill of the team."
Six members of the title-winning side - Taylah Griffin, Lauren Spencer, Matilda and Hannah Lenthall, Gabbi Groves and Aleigha Gumley were rewarded with selection in the championship side, picked by opposition coaches.
Full team
Hannah Lenthall, Gabbi Groves, Taylah Griffin, Charlotte Thomas, Matilda Lenthall, Sophie Davies, Lauren Spencer, Aleigha Gumley, Bonnie Pitt and Brielle Smith
Coach: Kate Lenthall
Assistant Coach: Ali Gumley
Manager: Kylie Groves
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