The Natureland Thunder have completed a perfect season in Division One after they held off the fast-finishing Crescent Head Vipers 25-23 in a nail-biting grand final on Saturday.
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The Thunder held the advantage at the end of each quarter, but the Vipers closed the gap in the final quarter after a knee injury to goal keeper Jessica Lawrence opened the door slightly.
The Vipers trailed by two goals at the first break, three goals at half-time and seven goals by three-quarter time, but they surged in the final minutes as they looked to end a 19-year premiership drought.
However, the Thunder's desperation proved superior as they held on to claim the title and an undefeated season.
"It was relief when the final siren went but then it turned to joy," Thunder captain Shellie Morrison told the Argus.
"It has been a pretty unbelievable, remarkable and memorable season."
Morrison credited the Vipers, who put up a fight until the final whistle.
"Crescent Head were relentless the whole game and especially in the final quarter," she said.
"They threw everything at us and we were very lucky and had to work hard to be able to hold on.
"I am very proud of my team. Everyone played exceptionally well and played with team spirit."
The Division One umpires Kerry Little and Naomi Fraser elected Thunder's Sarah Williams and Vipers' Phoebe Williams as the player's of the match.
"Sarah had an amazing game," Morrison said.
"She was tight in defence and I lost contact of how many interceptions and deflections she did and she helped guide us to victory.
"Phoebe was terrific for Crescent Head. She played centre the entire game which in itself is incredible because she had to run everywhere. She pulled off a lot of intercepts and kept them in the game."
The Natureland club were presented the association Club of the Year and also celebrated two other grand final victories; the Under-15s Natureland Lightnight and the Division 2A Natureland Cyclones.
Morison congratulated all of the grand final winners on their achievements and thanked the committee for the organsing a terrific season.
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