NSW wins netball title - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

NSW wins netball title

23/10/2004 08:30:00 PM Comments (0)

NSW has ended its five-year drought at the national netball championships by completing an unbeaten rampage through the tournament with a 60-35 grand final victory over South Australia in Perth.

SA led for most of the first few minutes, but was subsequently buried under an avalanche of goals at Challenge Stadium.

NSW led by 11 at halftime before completely dominating the second half.

A star-studded combination including four members of next month's Australian squad to play world champion New Zealand, NSW proved to be every bit as good on pine as they looked on paper.

"It's a pretty formidable line up all the way down the court," said captain and defender Liz Ellis, who last played in a national championship winning NSW team seven years ago.

"I think we all just desperately wanted it, there are a couple of guys in our squad who haven't won anything for a while and as much as it sounds a bit corny, we were pretty desperate to win for the state as well as for each other."

The attacking combination of Natalie Avellino and shooters Catherine Cox (24 goals from 30 attempts) and Megan Anderson (26 from 33) overwhelmed SA.

The South Australians also had trouble at the other end where their most experienced shooter Jane Altschwager was comprehensively outplayed by Swifts clubmate Ellis.

Altschwager scored just four goals from her 10 first quarter attempts and finished with 16 at 59 per cent.

"Our forward line just didn't have enough purpose about it, we were probably a little bit hesitant and any hesitation and their defenders will jump on you," SA coach Tania Obst said.

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