Waaia is the 2026 Picola District League C-Reserve netball premier.
“It was heart stopping.”
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Those words were all Waaia C-Reserve netball coach Tiffany Bradbury could mutter when reflecting on a gripping Picola District League netball grand final.
Waaia, chasing grand final redemption after falling short in 2025, was on a mission on Saturday at Mathoura Recreation Reserve and initially looked to win big.
Midway through the second term, Waaia led 16-10 and the lead looked set to continue skyrocketing.
That was until Dookie United injected Ivy Stevens into the match.
Despite being the youngest on the court, and a junior-aged player at that, Stevens’ athleticism, read of the play and scoring accuracy in goal attack turned the game back in the Thunder’s favour.
Stevens, in combination with goal shooter Tessa Fasham, retrieved the deficit to three goals at half time, before nailing six of the eight first third quarter goals to give the Thunder the lead.
But the Bombers would respond.
Another solid lead would accumulate, and with five minutes left in the final term, the Bombers led 35-30.
They were surely home.
Or so they thought.
Dookie United clicked, as Stevens and Fasham trimmed the margin again, while defenders Eliza Dmytriw and Casandra Laffy prevented Waaia replies.
Fasham tied the game after back-to-back rebounds off her own shot, but Waaia would heave the ball quickly down its own end, with goal attack Michaela Martz netting the game winner.
The ball was loose on the deck as teal and red scrambled in Waaia’s offensive third when the final horn rang out, the Bombers claiming a 39-38 victory to take out the C-Reserve flag.
“It was heart stopping,” Bradbury said.
“I didn’t know how long there was to go.
“I just believed in the girls that they would do it, that they could do it.
“It’s a great achievement, it’s a really wonderful feeling to bring one home for Waaia.”
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