Picola District League confirms football and netball grand finalists

The Kats hardly started on the right foot as favourites in meeting the Bears over the border at Mathoura, finding themselves 20 points down by the end of a head-spinning first term.

Having made the break-neck start themselves two weeks prior in what eventually became a tight-fisted qualifying final victory over Katamatite, it shaped as a dire reversal of fortunes for Jason Whittaker’s side.

In following the lead of its adversaries in the third term from a fortnight ago, though, Katandra rallied to come within inches of the lead, the Bears maintaining their ascendancy into the long break by a mere whisker.

The third term brought about the first genuinely, properly contested period of football all afternoon with no ‘scoring end’ or surge in momentum to be seen, with the sides going blow for blow as the Kats eventually garnered a modest upper hand.

With the margin at seven entering the final half-hour, every indication was that we were set for a grandstand finish.

Katandra, it’s safe to say, had other ideas by then.

Mitch Black was the hero last time out with his bag of five against the Tigers, but on this occasion, it was Thomas Jeffery who matched Black’s output with five of his own to steer the Kats into Saturday’s decider, taking a handy 13.3 (81) to 7.8 (50) result back home.

Despite a rocky start to proceedings, Katandra coach Jason Whittaker was undaunted by the task that laid ahead over the following three quarters.

“It was really tricky conditions and they were kicking with the breeze and making the most of it,” Whittaker said.

“We got a couple into the wind, which was good, but really just tried to deny them the footy in the second quarter to get back on an even keel.

“In the third term, we made a real conscious effort to work hard and we outscored them going into the wind, which was pleasing.

“We had a good crack in the last and kept rolling on, which was great.”

Though it has been two different forwards saluting with big bags in the Kats’ finals wins to date, Whittaker is the furthest thing from concerned about any over-reliance.

“We feel it’s one of our strengths, not looking to just one person,” Whittaker said.

“We have a solid foundation and a grounded 22 players; we don’t expect everything from someone, but we expect something from everyone.

“It was another player’s turn this time and he made the most of it.

“We’ve got a big job to do and another week of footy ahead of us and we’re just grateful for the opportunity that winning a prelim gives us.

“We’ll go out there to do our best and hopefully that’s good enough.”

Over, then, went the glances of league observers to Yarroweyah, where defending premier Waaia met minor premier Katamatite for the other spot.

The Bombers never appeared truly troubled on the scoreboard by their wayward foes, running it out with plenty of breathing room to keep aspirations of a three-peat alive, winning 8.9 (57) to 3.9 (27).

The A-grade netballers took to the courts for their prelims as well, with Katunga getting the job done comprehensively as underdogs over Strathmerton at Mathoura on Saturday.

The Swans’ big 36-20 win was a significant statement in qualifying first for the decider, but there will be no greater task than knocking over the defending premiers on that big day at Rennie after Deniliquin Rovers edged past Katamatite 35-30 in the Sunday affair.