ANA 2023: Fourth A1 premiership in seven years after Royals Saints hold off late challenge from Bullets

Royals Saints 1 secured back-to-back Albany Netball Association A1 premierships after fighting off a determined Bullets 1 in a pulsating final term on Saturday afternoon. The five-goal victory handed Royals Saints successive titles and their fourth A1 grand final win in seven years, as they reversed the recent qualifying final loss to the same opponent to retain the coveted Diane Martin (nee Jackson) premiership trophy. Played in front of hundreds of spectators at Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre, the grand final came down to the final 15 minutes after an absorbing three quarters. A three-goal Royals Saints advantage at the final change was quickly cut to one as Bullets tried desperately to reel in their rivals. The margin remained under two goals for much of a gripping fourth quarter before the class of Royals Saints came to the fore as they took control of the dying stages to win by five goals. Summer Stirling netted seven goals in a crucial final term while the work of Nardia Humphries and Rebecca Goodliffe was vital in their side claiming grand final glory, 44-39. Humphries was named best and fairest in the grand final, earning the Lucille Holt Award for her highly influential four quarters at wing attack. Royals Saints’ title win came with plenty of challenges as they withstood a fierce final quarter challenge from the gallant Bullets. Bullets got within one goal on seven occasions in the final term but could not land successive goals and get their noses in front. Turnovers at critical moments proved costly and despite the best efforts of outstanding defender Claire Holliday and young shooter Emily Gadean their side was denied a fairytale finish to 2023. Royals Saints coach Carly Szczecinski said the premiership win was reward for her side’s hard work. “It was definitely a hard game,” she said. “We did have a good level of control in the game and there were definitely moments when we could have pulled away but let Bullets back into the game. “Every time we were challenged we fought back with our calmness and our more experienced players knew exactly what they needed to do. “Summer shot really well and Nardia turned over a couple of crucial balls. “We’ve got some players in that team that have been with us since juniors, good loyal club people so it’s nice to see them rewarded for all their hard work and I think it’s the first time we’ve won back-to-back since 2007-08.” Stirling was outstanding netting 24 goals at 83 percent while Charlotte Edwards chipped in with 20 goals from 28 attempts. Bullets were the first team into the decider and scored the opening goal of the game but Royals Saints were able to establish an early lead through the dynamic shooting combination of Charlotte Edwards and Stirling. Royals Saints led by one goal at quarter-time and extended that buffer to four goals at the end of the second period, as wing attack Humphries and goal defender Goodliffe were both playing key roles. Bullets fought back strongly to win the third term and keep themselves in the game heading into the final stanza. Gadean was superb in the third as she scored seven of her side’s eight goals while Holliday was playing some sort of game in the back half, rebounding and intercepting regularly. Scores were level twice in the third term but Royals Saints steadied the ship as Stirling hit a couple of late goals to push her side clear by three. Gadean finished with a game-high 26 goals from 34 attempts, including 14 in the last half, while Scott (nine from 20) and Charlotte Boreham (four from four) were rotated through rolling substations. Bullets coach Phil Dawson said he was proud of his side’s performances this season. “They gave it their all but it just weren’t quite good enough on the day,” he said. “Royals went up another notch and go a break on us, their centre court played very well and we had no one to go with Nardia. “It was an outstanding season from the girls, they really developed into a nice little team and perhaps we were a year ahead of ourselves.”