Cats remain on top
Neerim South centre Tarli Hillberg waits for her goalers to make position against Nilma Darnum. The Cats won the entertaining game, 48-44.
Neerim South has maintained its impressive undefeated streak after overcoming a strong Nilma Darnum challenge in round 18 of A grade on Saturday.
The highly anticipated clash between Ellinbank and District netball’s top two teams certainly delivered, with the Cats winning 48-44.
The Bombers led 4-1 in the opening minutes, but the Cats delivered a 16 goal to three burst to lead 18-8 at quarter time.
With tall goaler Hayley Purcell kept relatively quiet, the Bombers changed up the goaling line-up. It worked, the introduction of Mel Cook seeing them trail by three at half-time, 24-27.
Purcell returned and was back to her regular form in the third as Neerim, with both goalers sharing the load, extended the lead to five at the last break.
Although Nilma got the margin back to a couple at the start of the last, the Cats held their nerve for the four-goal win.
Neerim will finish top, Nilma second and Ellinbank cemented third on Saturday after a 65-18 win over Catani. Despite having a bye, Trafalgar remain fourth.
Rounding out the top five, Buln Buln survived a scare against Longwarry to remain in fifth, winning 54-50.
This game was close throughout, with both the Lyrebirds and Crows leading at different times but unable to pull away.
Longwarry wing defence Isabelle Fekos takes the ball in the 17 and under game. The Crows won 42-18 to be in sixth on the ladder.
Nilma Darnum wing attack Madlyn Borsato drives into attack in A grade. The team wore Indigenous Round dresses designed by Drouin resident Lionel Rose Jnr on Saturday.
Buln Buln started well to lead 4-1 before the teams settled for a mostly goal-for-goal quarter. Buln led 17-14 at quarter time.
The tight contest continued in the second, before the Crows enjoyed an eight goal to one run in the closing five minutes to get in front. They led 29-24 at half-time.
Patty McInnes provided a strong target in the third as the Lyrebirds gained the momentum to lead 39-38 at the last change.
Little separated the teams in the last, but a seven goal to one run proved the difference for Buln Buln as they secured an important four-goal win.
In the final game, Lang Lang kept its finals dream alive, with a 42-38 win.
Now sitting sixth - just one game behind Buln Buln - the Tigers led at every change, but certainly had to work hard for the win.
Lang Lang led by as much as seven goals on multiple occasions, but the young Magpies never gave up. They narrowed the margin to just one goal about halfway through the last quarter.
However, the Tigers held their nerve to secure the four-goal win. They will need to pull off a big upset in the final two rounds for a chance to play finals.
Next week’s games: Ellinbank v Nilma Darnum, Neerim South v Lang Lang, Buln Buln v Catani and Yarragon v Longwarry. Trafalgar and Poowong have byes.
Buln Buln centre Beth Axford throws a long pass in the 17 and under game on Saturday.
Action photographs by JAKUB FABIJANSKI.