Historic Double Unleashes Emotions

The Age

Monday July 30, 2007

Linda Pearce

A NETBALL era ended with two matches and an emotional tribute ceremony before a record crowd of more than 10,000 yesterday, but only one host was able to wave it off in style.

Melbourne Phoenix started as they began 11 years ago, successfully; Melbourne Kestrels, also typically, fell just short.

As Vodafone Arena witnessed the last pair of national league matches to be played in Victoria, the tale was an old one - the perennially mid-ladder Kestrels opening with a 61-54 loss to finals rival Queensland Firebirds, before the five-time champion Phoenix outplayed Adelaide Thunderbirds 54-46.

With two rounds and the condensed finals weekend in Sydney remaining, the Phoenix has secured a decisive two-game break atop the ladder. The Kestrels remain third with away fixtures against the Thunderbirds and Perth Orioles to come.

"The best thing we can do to honour the history of Kestrels is to make sure we finish off the season really well and lift from the sort of performance we put in today," said coach Jane Searle. "We've got some tough games ahead and it's all before us, so we need to make sure we just go on from here."

Having trailed 18-13 after an opening quarter dominated by Jo Morgan against new Australian defender Julie Prendergast, the Kestrels spent the balance of the match playing catch-up, drawing level early in the third quarter but never heading an opponent playing its second match in three days.

Searle tried three defenders on the unstoppable Morgan - Prendergast, co-captain Bec Bulley, who fared best, and teenager Amy Steel - but none could curb the Firebirds' veteran, who nailed 48 of her 56 attempts.

Searle tried every imaginable combination and 11 of her 12 players. Only shooter Caity Thwaites (35 goals at 90 per cent) remained in her original position, as Searle threw her line-up around to try to bridge a gap that blew out in the last five minutes.

Yet if not even the occasion could lift the Kestrels after the three-week international break, nor, apparently, did it play a negative role. "Basically, it was just our bad play," Bulley said. "It was just a really disappointing game.

"I came to today with a mix of emotions - sad, nervous, excited - and now it's just all sad. It's our last home game, the crowd was fantastic but unfortunately we didn't finish off on a good note in Melbourne. But it's not over yet; we've still got finals coming up, hopefully."

For Phoenix, as in all but one previous season, the play-offs are a certainty, and co-captain Sharelle McMahon may be among those rested in the lead-up to the August 17-19 finals.

That will be the end for a domestic league that was ripe for an overhaul and will be replaced by an ambitious joint venture with New Zealand. It also will be the end for Australia's most successful team, although the Phoenix are likely to supply most personnel for the future Melbourne franchise.

Yesterday, former stars Eloise Southby-Halbish and Susan Meaney addressed the current squad in the rooms before the game. "I think there was tears in everyone's eyes," McMahon said. "It's actually been a very emotional year and certainly a very emotional day today.

"We started really well, which was really pleasing, because it could have been a little bit out of control - everyone was really up and excited before the game with that great tribute that was put together, and it was great that we were able to control that and then get a nice lead and continue that throughout the game."

Phoenix coach Julie Hoornweg, who will take control of the Victorian side to contest next season's trans-Tasman competition, had warned her players what to expect against the fifth-placed T-birds.

"There were tears running everywhere, so the threat was then, could they bring it back and play netball? I was delighted they actually did that, when it could easily have just washed over them," she said. "When they had to, they dug in and played well; every now and again, I think the emotion of the day just overcame them."

DETAILS

Queensland Firebirds 61

Morgan 48, Dziwoki 8, Castrisos 5

d Melbourne Kestrels 54

Thwaites 35, Howard 16, Booth 3

at Vodafone Arena.

Melbourne Phoenix 54

McMahon 28, Sargent 26

d Adelaide Thunderbirds 46

Hughes 24, Medhurst 22

at Vodafone Arena.

© 2007 The Age

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