Undera’s Stephanie Moran tries to close down the Charlotte Thomas shot. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
With just six regular season rounds remaining, the fight for the Kyabram District League netball finals is well and truly on, with plenty of sides still in with a shot at securing a top six place.
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The round saw a mix of top table clashes, and scraps in a crowded mid-table with finals implications.
The round
Nagambie 39 lt Lancaster 42
Stanhope 41 d Violet Town 26
Girgarre 37 lt Tallygaroopna 50
Merrigum 80 d Undera 16
Shepparton East 75 d Murchison Toolamba 16
Longwood 35 lt Avenel 50
Rushworth bye
Merrigum’s Brooklyn Holt-Hebbard takes over in midcourt.
Nagambie vs Lancaster
Nagambie’s hopes of making the top two were all but ended as Lancaster repelled the Lakers’ challenge away from home.
It was a tight contest throughout, and neither side will feel they proved dominance should the clubs meet in the finals, but the Wombats secured the bragging rights on this occasion 42-39.
Lainey Short starts a possession for the Lions.
It moves Lancaster a win clear of the Lakers in the fight for second, likely an insurmountable deficit, given the Wombats have only lost once so far this season, and have played one fewer game than Nagambie.
The Lakers have now lost two straight, giving up second spot and the finals’ second chance that comes with it.
Mykaelah Fallon and Latia Doherty fight for possession.
Stanhope vs Violet Town
The Lions’ own finals chances may be over, but Stanhope still had the opportunity to play spoiler and did so against a hopeful Violet Town.
Stanhope had little trouble against its higher ranked opponent, kicking clear to record a solid margin of victory 41-26.
It marks just the Lions’ third win on the year, the side improving to 3-8, while Violet Town’s season is on life support, dropping two-and-a-half wins back from the top six after letting the favourable fixture slip.
Erin Woodman presures Georgia Wilson around the loose ball.
Merrigum vs Undera
Undera faced one of its most comprehensive defeats of the season after its trip to Merrigum this week.
The Bulldogs showed no mercy to the winless Lions, earning a boost to their percentage with an 80-16 final scoreline.
Undera is running out of chances to get on the board, but faces its nearest rival Longwood next week in perhaps its best chance of victory all season.
Merrigum (6-1-3) is close to locking down a finals berth, six points clear in sixth spot.
Claire Mitchell receives the high ball.
Girgarre vs Tallygaroopna
Tallygaroopna continued its sparkling patch of form with victory away in Girgarre at the weekend.
The less favoured Roos competed well against a side coming off two top four scalps in three weeks, but the Redlegs had a little too much quality on the day, prevailing 50-37.
The defeat likely ends any late finals push four Girgarre, the Roos 10 points out of the top six.
Holley McDonald scans for a forward option.
Tallygaroopna is on a run of five straight wins, up into the top four with this win.
In the remaining games of the round, leader Shepparton East had no trouble against Murchison-Toolamba, winning 75-16, while Avenel defeated Longwood 50-35.
Rushworth had this week’s bye.
Charlotte Thomas fires for goal.
Round 13 will test Tallygaroopna’s recent form as they host Shepparton East, while Lancaster is at home to Girgarre and Stanhope travels to Rushworth.
Undera welcomes a travelling Longwood in a bottom of the table showdown, while Merrigum visits Murchison-Toolamba and Violet Town is at home to Nagambie.
