PDL ǀ Gallery ǀ Rennie flexes muscle to storm to under-17 premiership

By James Kleeman

Sep 11, 2022

Young stars: Rennie’s under-17 premiership team.

If Saturday’s under-17 premiership win is anything to go by, Rennie’s netballing future is looking bright.

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The Grasshoppers were simply too strong for their Katunga counterparts in the Picola District Netball League grand final on Saturday, as they romped to a 51-36 win.

Coach Brooke McDougall, who has coached many of her under-17 stars through the ranks, said to get another grand final win had been extra special.

“It’s so exciting, for a lot of of these girls, it’s not their first win, and for me, I coached some of them in the under-13s grand final, so to come up with them and to get this result today is incredible,” she said.

“They’re all so deserving, as a team of mixed ages they all work together and they play together like I’ve never seen.

“Even with new people coming into the club, they just slot in, everyone is so welcome —they’re all so talented it’s just mind blowing.”

Jubilation: Rennie players celebrate their win. Photo by Megan Fisher

With an exciting group of netball talent making waves in the junior ranks, McDougall said everyone at the club was so excited to see what it could produce in the years to come.

“As a small club, who sometimes struggle for players especially in the seniors, to have such strong juniors and for them to develop and have the opportunity to play senior netball as well, to make it into the grand final just shows how dedicated they are,” she said.

“But also how dedicated they are to each other — as both friends and teammates — it’s a one-in-all-in sort of attitude and that’s what we got today.”

Like a bullet: Rennie’s Jemma Adkins fires a pass. Photo by Megan Fisher

McDougall outlined a number of her key performers who rose to the occasion on Saturday.

“Everyone had their own goals today, Sophie O’Dwyer who got best-on-court absolutely stood out; she has been working so hard at training with her goals,” she said.

“That’s the same for Sophia Shaw who ran four quarters in the centre and didn’t let up; her speed is incredible and she’s only 15.

You shall not pass: Rennie’s Abbey Coghill looks to put a block on her opponent. Photo by Megan Fisher

“Our captain Ella Rhodes has filled in for A-grade all season as a full-time player, the strength that she has developed is second to none.”

With the game still in the balance at three-quarter time on Saturday, Rennie assumed control of proceedings in the final term and blitzed its way to a resounding win.

“The first half I think we struggled to play our own game,” McDougall said.

“That third quarter, we came on with a fresh mentality and the way that we played — the girls took control and knew what they wanted, they put in to play everything that they’ve worked for.

“They never got a big head, never dropped to a mistake, they kept fighting and never gave up.”