Natimuk boosts three-peat chance
Natimuk United’s Horsham District A Grade netball title defence is looking as strong as ever after passing a big test at the weekend.
The Ewes have their eyes firmly fixed on a premiership three-peat in this year’s grand final, and boosted their chances of getting there with a hard-fought three-goal win over challenger Harrow-balmoral.
Natimuk United led throughout the game, but could not find a way to put a comfortable amount of breathing room between itself and the home side at Harrow.
A 15-goals-to-12 first quarter gave the Ewes the ascendancy, with Alysha Liston netting eight goals for the visitors alongside Candice Muszkieta in attack.
After Liston’s strong start her Harrow-balmoral opponent, Ebonie Salter, showed why she is one of the most respected players in the competition.
Liston scored three, four and two goals respectively in the next three quarters to finish with 17 for the day as Salter’s defensive intensity began to have an impact.
While Liston was locked in an engrossing battle with Salter, it was another move by Natimuk United that kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Shannon Couch was brought on for
Muszkieta in the second quarter and paid immediate dividends with 10 goals in the term.
With Ewe Michelle Trigg moving the ball effectively at centre and defenders Jo Taylor and Casey Vanstan doing their best to curb the influence of Harrow-bamoral goalies Amy Lewis and Brittany Keller, the visitors amassed a 10-goal lead at the final change.
Still, Harrow-balmoral would not go away, and a 12-goal effort in the last quarter combined with a stellar defensive effort created a few nervous moments for the visitors before an eventual 44-41 win.
Coincidentally, the score was exactly the same as when Natimuk United bested the Roos in the 2017 grand final.
The result sets up a potential round 11 blockbuster rematch of the 2018 grand final between the Ewes and Laharum.
If both sides win their next two matches they will enter the round undefeated.
Natimuk United will try to ensure that is the case beginning with Rupanyup at home this weekend.
The Panthers were soundly defeated by Jeparit-rainbow on Saturday, losing 53-37 after a stifling defensive effort from the Storm in the second and third quarters.
Olivia Revell switched into defence for the Storm after starting at goal attack and combined with Ebony Spokes to shut off avenues to goal for the Panthers, who were best served by coach Kayla Woods and Sadie Slorach.
Jeparit-rainbow will now play host to Edenhope-apsley, which was on the wrong end of a 50-41 loss to Swifts.
The Baggies did their best work in the second quarter as they turned a two-goal advantage into 10 goals by the main break.
Michaela Armer was key for Swifts with 11 goals in the quarter and 40 for the game, but Saint Cynthia Watt helped negate Armer’s parter Jade Ralph in goals.
Swifts now has the unenviable task of playing Laharum fresh from a bye.
In the final matches of the round, Pimpinio will host Kalkee and Harrow-balmoral will be on the road to face Noradjuha-quantong.
The Tigers notched their second win of the season with a 52-41 triumph against Taylors Lake at the weekend, but will find the going significantly tougher against the Kees, who beat the Bombers 56-46 to maintain their spot in the top six.