Sandgate-Redcliffe spoil Katherine Raymont Shield farewell for Gold Coast coach Garry Lovett
It wasn’t supposed to end like this. The fairytale farewell scripted for outgoing Gold Coast coach Garry Lovett failed to materialise today as the Dolphins’ grand final demons returned against Sandgate-Redcliffe.
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IT wasn’t supposed to end like this.
The fairytale farewell scripted for outgoing Gold Coast coach Garry Lovett failed to materialise today as the Dolphins’ grand final demons returned against Sandgate-Redcliffe.
The dominant side in the Katherine Raymont Shield’s one-day competition all season, Gold Coast were brought undone by the Gators’ batting pillars of Beth Mooney (112) and Jemma Barsby (85) to slip to a 37-run loss to Allan Border Field.
Chasing 239 for victory after Eliza Flynn’s haul of 4-30, the runaway minor premiers were bowled out for 207 in the penultimate over, despite steady knocks from representative duo Georgia Redmayne (50) and Sammy-Jo Johnson (41).
DETERMINED DOLPHINS VOW TO RISE AGAIN
Redmayne and Tara Wheeler (33) had put on a 77-run opening stand but a steady flow of wickets thereafter consigned the Dolphins to a sixth one-day final loss in as many attempts.
Johnson (2-40) was the only other Dolphins bowler to take multiple scalps.
A driving force behind the establishment of the club’s women’s program in 2009-10, Lovett has overseen every high and low but announced in December that this season would be his last as coach.
“Before we left the field (after bowling) we said ‘don’t forget about Garry’s last game’,” captain Belinda McDougall said.
DOMINANT DOLPHINS OUT TO MAKE FINALS STATEMENT
“Garry was so gracious in his speech to us after the game. He said he’s loved all his time with us and he hopes to still be around in some position, just not as head coach.
“Losing the toss, we probably would’ve batted first too. Beth Mooney got going and so did Jemma Barsby and we tried our best to contain them but (Mooney) was just great.
“Once she got out they lost a lot of wickets but by then the damage had been done. Georgia and Tara got us off to a fantastic start but we just put ourselves under the pump (in the middle overs) and left our run a little bit late.”
Gold Coast had entered the title decider on the back of a crushing semi-final win over Ipswich-Logan at Bill Pippen Oval on Saturday.
‘THIS ONE’S FOR GARRY’ - DOLPHINS’ EXTRA TITLE AMMUNITION
Buoyed by the presence of Southern Stars quick Delissa Kimmince, the Dolphins rolled the Hornets for just 121 before cruising home in the 24th over with seven wickets to spare.
First drop Rebecca van Helvoirt topscored with 40, while Johnson (2-10), Amy Riddell (2-14), Roxanne Thomson (2-18) and Carly Fuller (2-26) did the damage with the ball.
DOLPHINS’ GRAND FINAL RECORD
2013-14 one-day – loss
2014-15 one-day – loss
2015-16 one-day – loss
2016-17 Twenty20 - loss
2016-17 one-day – loss
2018-19 Twenty20 - win
2018-19 one-day – loss
2019-20 one-day – loss
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