Experience of Narrandera to meet youth of MCUE in netball grand final

YOUTH will go up against experience in Sunday's A grade netball grand final.

In a replay of last year's premiership decider, Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes will be out to defend its crown when it takes on the experience of Narrandera.

The Eagles will take to its home stadium for a fourth consecutive grand final.

Narrandera won the 2011 and 2012 premierships before going down to the Goannas in last year's finale.

MCUE will go into the team with just two players over the age of 21, where as Narrandera has just one netballer under 21 in a real battle of youth versus experience.

Experienced Narrandera netballer Caren Hugo believes the big thing they have learnt from previous grand finals is that anything can happen.

"Every grand final has been different so far, so I guess just to be ready for anything," Hugo said.

"To come in with a level head, not to get too excited, not to get too mellow, just to find a comfortable spot and keep it consistent."

MCUE prevailed 45-39 in last year's grand final but Hugo maintains the pain of that defeat no longer sits inside Narrandera players.

"Not at this stage, at this stage we're just trying to forget that it happened

"It's a new year, last year is what it was

"This one's been a better one, we've probably been a little bit more consistent than we were last year so we're going in a little bit more optimistic.

"But yeah, last year is over, it's done."

Talented netballer Shea Byrne crossed from Wagga Tigers to MCUE this season.

She has loved playing netball for the Goannas.

"It's really great, the club is really welcoming," Byrne said.

"I've really enjoyed coming into such a young development for my personal growth and things like that.

"It's been lovely."

Byrne said MCUE will go into confident of victory but also respectful of what Narrandera brings to the table.

"We're pretty confident in our ability," Byrne said.

"We've got a pretty young team, there is only two people over the age of 21 in our team so we're just trying to go in consistently which is what we've been doing all season.

"We're always aware that Narrandera is always our toughest competition, and they're really great at bringing on a comeback.

"Two weeks ago we were up by 12 and they came back to even, we ended up winning by four but it's always a tight competition."

MCUE will look to shut down Narrandera goal shooter Caren Hugo, goal attack Kelly Seidel.

Narrandera will been keen to limit the influence of MCUE shooters Ella Finemore and Georgia Cornell.

Narrandera won the first meeting between the two teams this year 57-43, but the Goannas has since bounced back with two tight wins.

RFL grand final netball

1.15pm: A grade - MCUE v Narrandera

11.45am: A reserve - MCUE v Leeton-Whitton

10.15am: B grade - Leeton-Whitton v Turvey Park

9am: C grade - Turvey Park v Leeton-Whitton