ANA 2025: Kangas secure A1 grand final slot after thrilling extra-time victory over minor premiers Narrikup

Kangas 1 secured their place in the Albany Netball Association A1 grand final after a pulsating qualifying final victory over minor premiers Narrikup 1 at Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre on Saturday. They needed extra time to clinch the thrilling contest 58-57 after Narrikup completed a fourth-quarter revival, nailing six goals in a row to haul themselves back to 47-all as the final whistle blew. It was a marvellous exhibition of clean netball, with Kangas just re-setting themselves to have the edge in extra time. Narrikup, who now have two losses in a row after being defeated by Royal Saints 1 in their final regular-season encounter, will have to defeat Royals again on September 13 if they are to reach the showpiece finale and earn another crack at Kangas. Both coaches agreed it had been a super encounter. Kangas’ Nicole Newton praised the way her side had found another gear to win after losing momentum in that extraordinary fourth stanza. “It’s always a good game against Narrikup, and I’m proud of the way our young ones held their nerve,” she said. “They never dropped their heads. It was amazing. “We talked about staying calm and being strategic, and they delivered. “We have not been in a grand final for a long time, so it was a brilliant win.” Narrikup coach Tanya McLennan took heart from the way her team fought back when all looked lost. “We were eight down and we came back to force a tie, so we can look at that positively,” she said. “It was a really good match; our defenders were exceptional — but so were theirs. “Now we have to step up, regroup and get the better of Royals.” There were turnovers and interceptions aplenty throughout but they came about through the determination and athleticism of both sets of defences rather than errors or wayward passes. For Kangas, Keely Berry and Sophie Panizza were both outstanding, while Shanaya Weeden was their main threat in terms of goals. Te Paea Keremete was the Kangas’ key figure in the attacking circle, and she kept her cool to bury the equalising goal in the last second. She was ably backed up by Rylee Davis, whose drive and feeding during her spell as goal attack kept the scoreboard ticking over. It was Narrikup who went ahead from the outset until a five-goal burst midway through the first quarter gave Kangas an advantage they maintained to lead 15-11 at the first break. The second quarter was frantic, with both defences working overtime. Narrikup caught up and wrestled the initiative, only for Kangas to level at 25-all and then nip in front with a goal on the half-time whistle. It was nip and tuck in the third quarter too, until Kangas’ mid-court pressure paid dividends and nine goals in a row gave them an eight-goal advantage going into the final term. They were 10 up at one point before the Narrikup fightback began, edging closer and closer as Keremete plopped in goal after goal until the leveller came at the death. However, that effort seemed to knock the stuffing out of Narrikup as they allowed a re-energised Kangas three in a row from 54-all, a margin which proved too tough to overhaul.