Top six solid in District netball
Swifts’ edge over fellow sixthplace contender Noradjuhaquantong received another boost at the weekend, as the 2019 Horsham District netball finals head towards a repeat of the 2018 line-up.
Reigning premier Natimuk United continues to sit atop the ladder with Laharum and Harrow-balmoral on its tail.
Fourth-rung Edenhope-apsley will be keen to challenge itself in finals once more, and Kalkee and Swifts sit tight in fifth and sixth respectively.
It is a list that likely rings bells for last season’s spectators, and weekend matches appeared to solidify the competition.
While the Baggies tightened their grip on a finals berth in a win against Pimpinio, 60-44, the Bombers’ last hope of securing sixth spot fell with an eight-goal loss to Jeparit-rainbow.
The make-or-break game was a close competition, the Storm’s Breanna Eastick and Bombers’ Lucy Brand leading the way in their goal circles. It was in the fourth quarter that Jeparit-rainbow extended its lead to take home a win, 40-32.
The Storm will now come up against heel-biting Pimpinio, while the Bombers
will face a challenge when they step onto the court against the Ewes, who remain undefeated.
In other matches, Rupanyup took a beating from Harrow-balmoral, 70-17, and Edenhope-apsley defeated Kalkee, 50-46.
The Roos, with best players Amy Lewis and Rebecca Francis, jumped out of the box in the first quarter with a 16-goal lead and continued to make light work of their competitors, despite the efforts of Panthers Emma Downes and Blair Burke.
Rupanyup will have a bye in round 15 before meeting Edenhope-apsley, whose weekend match against the Kees was not as clear-cut.
The Kees opened with a two-goal lead, and even when the balance shifted, kept close in pursuit – never more than five goals behind their opponents.
The Saints’ eventual win, secured by a strong attack in best-on-court Ellie Thomas, marked their eighth victory for the season.
The Kees, served well at the weekend by Jenna Bywaters and Millie Mcrae, will now face Laharum, coming off a round 14 bye.
Taylors Lake, also returning from a bye, will meet the Baggies in Stawell.