Last year, Waves achieved a club first as their 19 & Under team qualified for their first ever finals series.
After missing out in the preliminary finals last year, Waves have secured their second chance at redemption with confidence, landing second place to give them double the chance.
Sticking together all season, they will need to step up Wednesday night as they take on highest ranked team of the season, City West Falcons, who obtained first place.
Head coach for Peninsula, Jess Whitfort, believes her team has more than what it takes to go all the way.
“The club is so thrilled for the team,” Whitfort exclaimed.
“This year, sitting in second, they’ve had a much stronger year. They’re a well oiled machine and know their role well to play for each other, as a team.”
Waves retained 10 out of the 12 players from last year’s team, and with the addition of a few new recruits, Whitfort said they’ve really stepped it up another level and finished in a great position.
“Especially with the second chance, they are really looking forward to coming out with force in the semis.”
“Off court they love each other and are such a close bunch. On the court we’ve got the mix and combinations really right which is perfect timing.”
Despite coming up against Falcons in the first final, Whitfort is confident her team will execute the skill she knows they have.
“We beat them the first time we played them and then the second time we had a draw. We know City West are really competitive in finals but we’ve had some close contests with them before,
“We’re just going to be focused on each player’s own game and what they’ve done well during the season.
“We’ll be going in confident in our own game plan and really just ready to have a crack and make it in to the grand final on the first go!”
Whitfort also said their close match against Wilson Storage Southern Saints in Round 18 gave Waves the opportunity to learn one last very important lesson before entering finals.
“They were thrilled to be able to show the grit and the courage to hold on for an entire game. We started down so they had to fight back to regain control and bring themselves back.
“They know that if they are in a tough position not to put their heads down and to stick with it, ride it out, and get back on top.”
If Waves can indeed win on Wednesday, it would put them one step closer to achieving another milestone – first ever 19 & Under premiers.
Peninsula Waves will come up against City West Falcons at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Wednesday 31st July. They will be on Court 4 at 8:30pm.
