Published March 12, 2024 09:26
The 2024 Major Pennant Series wound up on Sunday 10 March and after 9 weeks of play Magenta Shores "A" grade side capped off a strong campaign finishing the year undefeated.
Commencing play in the final round Kooindah Waters and Magenta Shores stood equal on 14 points and, had Everglades won, Kooindah would have grabbed the title having won more individual match points at that stage. Kooindah had the bye in the final round and could do little more than watch and hope but it was not meant to be their year as Magenta posted a 3.5 / 2.5 win over Everglades to capture their first ever Pennant.
Wyong's "B" grade side played strongly all year winning the first 7 contests and had wrapped up the title with one round to play. Playing Shelly Beach both sides finished with 2 matches each in regulation play but Shelly Beach proved too strong in the playoff and claimed the points.
The "C" grade competition was very close and with only the final round to be played standings were Shelly Beach 12 points 17.5 matches Everglades 10 points 17.5 matches and Magenta Shores 10 points 14 matches.
It was fitting that two of the sides in a position to win the Pennant faced each other and Everglades and Magenta went head to head at Breakers with Everglades claiming all 4 matches to secure major points. The other contender, Shelly Beach, played Wyong at Toukley and finished 2 matches each but, unfortunately for Shelly Beach, Wyong ran out winners in the playoff. As a result Everglades and Shelly Beach both finished the season with 12 points but Everglades strong win in the final round gave them a winning margin of 21.5 matches to Shelly's 19.5.
The Sterland Shield, awarded to the best performing Club over the season, was also a close contest and was also decided by a countback based on total individual matches won. Wyong, the defending champions, played strongly over the 3 grades all year and finished with 34 points. Magenta also played strongly in all 3 grades and also had 34 points. Once the individual matches were tallied Magenta recorded 69.5 matches to defeat Wyong with 65.5 matches and the right to hold the Shield for their first time for the next 12 months.
Congratulations to all of the winning Clubs and also to club members who represented their Clubs and made the series possible.