St Mary’s had a convincing 46-25 victory over St Peter’s College in the first semifinal at the MLT Event Centre. The other semifinal was a lot different with Wyndham seeming to have the upper hand for most of the match before Pioneer Red came back to win the match 36-35 in extra time.
St Mary’s have been the leading side all season and have lost just the one game — against Pioneer Red.
The St Mary’s side will be keen for the win after perennial winners Ex High did not field a team this season.
St Mary’s coach Rebecca Wilson said the side clicked on Saturday. The team got off to a strong start.
For St Mary’s, Megan Lamb and Brinley Peirce combined well in defence to shut down many of the St Peter’s College attacks.
Wilson said the team needed to keep up the high standard for the final on Saturday.
The other semifinal had it all and more.
Wyndham took a lead early on and were ahead 18-14 at halftime. Defence was strong from both teams and Pioneer Red were three goals behind going into the last quarter.
Two five-minute halves were played in extra time and though it was close, Pioneer Red came out on top.
Pioneer Red coach Gary Breen said it was a very exciting game and one worthy of a final. Defensively the team was strong and worked hard.
Pioneer Red last won the title in 1998.
Breen said the extra time period was about staying strong together and keeping doing what they had been doing. Wyndham had the ball as the whistle blew at the end of extra time but Pioneer were ahead. He said with both St Mary’s and Pioneer Red having a win each against each other, it was hard to say what would happen this time around.
