NETBALL: Garden Hotel are the undisputed premier side in Dubbo A grade after beating Upside Garden 40-17 in the grand final played at the Nita McGrath Complex on Saturday.

Led by a team of 12 professional netballers, Garden retained the Village Hot Bake Shield for the second year running, but unlike 2007 they went through the season unbeaten.

Played in hot conditions on the bitumen surface, both teams struggled in the early stages but Garden’s reserve bench worked to their advantage and they powered home in the final quarter to win convincingly.

Garden captain Karin Morgan said up until the final quarter the quality of the game wasn’t deserved to being an A grade grand final.

“I think we all struggled in the heat,” she said.

“There were also the usual grand final nerves and in turn we both made a lot of mistakes.

“It wasn’t until the final quarter that we got it together, but we were pleased with the win and that we were able to get through the season unbeaten.

“It was a good season for us and all the players.”

The first two sessions didn’t create much excitement with Garden up 9-3 after the first quarter, and then it was 16-8 at the half-way mark.

After the third session Garden got out to 26-15 and it was obvious then that Upside would need to put something special together to change the trend of the game.

That didn’t happen and Garden shut out the game dominating the final quarter 14-2.

Nikki Seton from Upside Garden said her players were disappointed with the result but pleased that they had achieved their target of making the finals.

“Garden was the stand out side this year and deserved their win, they played good all year,” she said.

“Our plans were to make the finals and we did that, so that was pleasing.

“Unfortunately we only had one sub today and with the hot conditions it told in the finish.

“Congratulations to the Garden on their win and special thanks to all the Upside Garden girls who played well all year and to get to the grand final was a great effort.”