District netball sides jockey for finals positioning

The Horsham District A Grade netball top six is set – all that can change during Saturday’s final round is positioning.

Two-time reigning premier Natimuk United and 2018 runner-up Laharum are guaranteed to finish in the top two spots, likely first and second respectively, after both posted huge wins against lower-ranked opponents at the weekend.

The Demons notched their second-highest score of an already prolific season, falling just 12 goals short of surpassing 100 against Rupanyup.

Co-coaches Erin Mellington and Caitlin Story played key roles in the 88-18 rout, Mellington controlling proceedings from wing attack and shifting to goal keeper in the final quarter, while Story scored 57 goals to add to her league-leading individual tally.

Maddie Iredell was equally impressive with 31 goals at goal attack, giving onlookers a good individual battle to watch against Rupanyup coach and goal defence Kayla Woods.

Woods has consistently been among the better players for the Panthers this season and did her best to stem the flood of Laharum goals at the weekend.

At the other end of the court Olivia Huebner and Blair Burke did their best to lend some respectability to the scoreboard.

Natimuk Untied was no less impressive against Taylors Lake, keeping the Lakers below 10 goals in wet and rainy conditions at Natimuk Showground.

The 57-8 win set the Ewes up to cap an undefeated home and away season against Kalkee on the road this week.

Laharum, meanwhile, will play Edenhope-apsley, also a road game, and can finish no lower than second.

Harrow-balmoral is destined for third place no matter what the result of its game against Jeparit-rainbow is on Saturday.

The Roos are in an intriguing position, having not lost to a team below them on the ladder but unable to quite bridge the gap between themselves and the top two.

They struggled more than some might have expected against sixthplace Swifts at the weekend, shaking off a sluggish start to win 48-41.

Rebecca Francis at centre and coach Ebonie Salter in defence were the difference for the Roos, while wing defence Heidi Lang and goal keeper Erin Freeland were outstanding for the Baggies.

While Swifts went away empty-handed, the match should prove a good tune-up before finals.

The Baggies trail fourth-placed Edenhope-apsley by four premiership points and fifth-placed Kalkee only on percentage, and can jump up to fourth place before finals with favourable results this weekend.

The Kees are coming off a 57-29 win against Jeparit-rainbow driven by Rianna Kuhne and Grace Lutze playing on the wings.

They are likely to find the going harder against the Ewes on Saturday, however, and look likely to drop to sixth.

Edenhope-apsley has also been set a hard task as it returns from a bye against Laharum.

The only game featuring two nonfinals-bound sides in round 17 was between Noradjuha-quantong and Pimpinio.

The game was easily won by the Bombers, 57-33, with goal shooter Lucy Brand netting 39 shots.

Pimpinio, led by Jenelle Baker and Kelsey Hamilton, will start turning its attention towards 2020, with a bye in the final round.

The Bombers, meanwhile, will play Taylors Lake with a chance to get one last win on the board before their season also comes to an end.