The win also ended Rumba’s hopes of a third consecutive championship.
“You never underestimate anyone in finals regardless of where you finish, but our poise and our athleticism really came out in this game,” Tongala coach Abby Pettifer said.
“Having a team full of really good players, sometimes you can rely on each other a little bit too much and expect someone else to do the work but everyone who stepped on the court put in the hard work from the get-go and those one percenters pushed us right through to the end.”
Mulwala, which finished in second, should provide a challenge for the Blues in the prelim at Finley, but Tongala does have the recent history, having won over the Lions in the most recent meeting 59-55.
“When we're at full strength, I am confident if we perform that we can have a win again,” Pettifer said.
“Their strengths are our strengths, so we match up quite well.
“(Goalers) Milly (Brock) and Chicky (Vick) obviously really stand up, but our defenders at the moment are workhorses.
“They have been getting so many turnovers, their footwork is great so, if they can keep that up and obviously, keep the two Stephs (Hammond and Ferguson) under wraps a little bit, I think that we should be able to run it out.”
There is plenty more to keep an eye on in Finley with a host of other local sides also chasing grand final spots.
Tongala’s C-reserve and 17-and-under netballers will be in action, with the latter to battle Echuca United.
The Eagles also have under-14 football and 15-and-under netball games to prepare for, while Moama has sides in the 13-and-under netball, B-grade and C-grade.
Already through to the grand final are Moama’s reserves and under-17 football, and C-reserve, 17-and-under, and 15-and-under netball.
Tongala’s B-grade and C-grade sides are also through as are Echuca United’s 13-and-under netballers.
5°C