CHARLES Sturt University hope they have gained a mental edge in their rivalry with The Rock-Yerong Creek after advancing to the grand final and ending the Magpies' unbeaten run with a 48-46 second semi-final win on Saturday.
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The Bushsows lost to the Magpies, who are gunning for a third straight premiership, in last year's Farrer League netball grand final, but are the first team through to the big decider.
TRYC was coming off three weeks without a game, and CSU capitalised by racing to an early six goal lead.
The Magpies rallied to draw level at half-time, but the Bushsows responded to earn next week off, while TRYC takes on North Wagga in the preliminary final.
CSU captain Ashleigh O'Leary said the belief they now have they can beat the Magpies is "huge".
"We'll just keep doing what we've been doing and train hard, it's obviously paid off for us," she said.
"It's a huge confidence boost, but we always knew we could do it.
"We were up six goals up in the first quarter, it we can just maintain that sort of lead it would be great."
TRYC coach Sarah O'Leary said the loss could prove a blessing in disguise.
The minor premiers had three weeks off between games after also having the bye in the last round of the season, and a win would have ensured just one match in five weeks before the decider.
The load of going through the campaign unbeaten is also off their shoulders.
"I said to the girls we all felt like there was a lot of pressure on the game, but it wasn't the grand final," Sarah O'Leary said.
"At least now we've had a loss and we don't have that pressure on us, and it might be good to play another game and avoid another weekend off.
"CSU played really well but we definitely played one of our worst games. They got on top of us early and definitely having those three weeks off did impact us a little bit.
"We started slow and we can't afford to do that in finals."
TRYC will play North Wagga in Saturday's preliminary final after they edged out Temora 89-88 in an extra time shootout on Sunday.
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