AT the age of just 16 Bathurst's Lilli Mooney has claimed a Netball NSW Under 23s Premier League title after her UTS Randwick Sparks side emphatically won their grand final on Saturday against the South Coast Blaze.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Sparks were 44-32 victors over the Blaze, with the youngest team member Mooney ending her debut premier league season in the best fashion possible.
Mooney said once her Sparks gained some assurance in their ability in the opening quarter they started to look the better team in the decider.
"We were all very nervous going into it considering we had a really new team and our shooting end is completely different. The Blaze have a completely new team as well so there were a few nerves between both teams," she said.
"We have the best defence in the comp so having those girls at the end of the court feeding us the ball at the other end makes a big difference.
"Getting on a run of six or seven goals from a turnover can really get some momentum into your game."
Mooney found the opening goal for the Sparks after a shaky start for both teams, each struggling to retain possession amid the grand final nerves.
- READ MORE: Bathurst Netball Association: Collegians Mystified claim their third straight A grade grand final victory
- READ ALSO: GWS Giants netballer Sam Poolman surprises Western Region Academy of Sport netballers
- READ ALSO: Bathurst Netball Association: Storm players mark their last season together by being crowned undefeated premiers
But once the Sparks clicked into gear midway through the opening term they quickly shot out of the Blaze's sight.
They blew out to a 9-1 lead after 10 minutes of play and already it was going to take something special from the Blaze to pull the game back within reach.
South Coast did cut back on their errors to make it 14-5 at the end of the first term and a couple of mistakes from the Sparks in the second quarter started to put some pressure back on.
But a six-goal unanswered run from the Sparks quelled those fears and gave them a 28-15 lead at half-time.
Defence dominated the third quarter and despite it being tough for the Sparks to find goals they still found a way to extend their margin by another point going into the last quarter - effectively sealing the deal.
"It was an incredible year. I couldn't have asked for a better group of girls and coaches to do this with," Mooney said.
"If there was something I wasn't able to do the coaches were completely understanding and they're really aware of me having to balance my school life with the team. They were such a supportive group.
"If I wasn't doing something right they would always help me get my game to where they wanted it to be."
Want to keep up to date with Bathurst sport? Sign up to our daily newsletter and breaking news alerts here:
Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
