Teams vie to stay in race
Four teams will give their all this weekend as they fight for the right to continue their 2018 Horsham District A Grade finals campaigns.
Kalkee scraped into sixth spot with a thrilling three-goal win over Noradjuha-quantong at home. The Kees led by eight goals at half time and looked to have the game sewn up – particularly after the Bombers lost defender Brooke Pay to a knee injury in the second quarter.
But the Bombers lifted in the third quarter to narrow the deficit to four goals before drawing even in the last quarter. The Kees looked a little rattled but regrouped to pull away in the dying stages to win 36-33.
Defender Clair Mcdonald and goalie Jenna Bywaters were pivotal in the win and will need to be at their best on Saturday when the Kees meet third-placed Harrow-balmoral in an elimination final at Edenhope.
The sides sit at one win apiece, with the Kees triumphing by five goals in round three and the Southern Roos turning the tables to claim a sixgoal victory in round 13.
The Southern Roos have improved as the year has gone on and will be tough to beat this week.
They are coming off a comprehensive 43-goal drubbing of Jeparit-rainbow and show no signs of slowing down.
Bywaters plays a dynamic role for the Kees and is their strongest shooter, but she will line up on one of the best defenders in the competition in Ebonie Salter.
Bywaters and Tamara Exell will need to be accurate, because good luck getting any rebounds off Salter or tall young keeper Ella Rees.
Both sides boast fast-paced midcourts and the Kees will need to limit supply to prolific Harrowbalmoral shooter Amy Lewis, who should still post a decent score even if double-teamed by Mcdonald and Coco Ledgar.
Kalkee has had a great season and will be keen to see it continue, but the Southern Roos should be too strong across the court.
Sunday’s battle between fourth-placed Swifts and fifth-placed Edenhope-apsley at Rupanyup is harder to call. Expect a ripper battle in the midcourt between the two fast-paced sides, with Swifts’ coach Courtney Morrow and Heidi Sudholz going head to head with Saints counterparts Ash Ryan and Rachael Elmslie.
Neither team has a particular height advantage but Swifts appear stronger in goals with two goalies sharing shooting responsibilities relatively evenly. Michaela Armer and Jade Ralph are working well together although they will have to contend with strong defence from Alex Lang and Cynthia Watt.
Up the other end, the Saints have Krystal Schapel in good form. However, as she shoots the majority of the side’s goals, Julia Coates and her fellow defenders will look hard to limit her opportunities and force workhorse Sarah Domaschenz to put up more shots.
To the wire
The sides have met only once this season, with the Saints triumphing by a goal in a thriller. Expect Sunday’s match to also go down to the wire.
The Saints regularly appear in finals action but are yet to break through for an important win, whereas Swifts are up and about after qualifying for their first tilt at finals in more than a decade.
This excitement and drive, along with their cohesiveness and ability to stick together as a team, might just get the Baggies over the line.
Minor premier Laharum and second placed Natimuk United have earned a week’s rest and will play off for a grand final berth the following week.
The Demons finished their season with a 58goal win over Taylors Lake while the Ewes were too strong for Swifts to the tune of 24 goals. The Saints also finished the home-and-away season on a high, beating Pimpinio. Round-18 results: Laharum d Taylors Lake 81-23, Kalkee d Noradjuha-quantong 36-33, Natimuk United d Swifts 56-34, Harrow-balmoral d Jeparit-rainbow 65-22, Edenhope-apsley d Pimpinio 55-34.