So far this season the likes of Orange Physiotheraphy Vipers coach Lynne Middleton, Hawks Royal player-coach Amanda Hurford and Hawks DVM mentor Tash Rudd, among many more, have all suggested both of Orange City’s sides will give this year’s Orange Netball Association Toyota Cup title a shake.
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They all said it might take the Lions outfits some time to click, but after last weekend’s third round there’s every reason to suggest that’s happening earlier than many expected.
After both picking up wins last Saturday, for the first time this season Orange City Newey’s Drive-Thru Cleaners and Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical are both inside the competition’s top four, sitting third and fourth respectively on percentage.
Granted last year’s runners-up Hawks Royal’s clash with OHS Hornets was deferred to Thursday night so they haven’t picked up any points from the third round yet, but even so, it looks as though the Lions’ two-pronged assault on the 2018 title is starting to gain plenty of momentum.
Orange City Newey’s Drive-Thru Cleaners scored their second consecutive victory on Saturday, keeping Hawks DVM’s winless start to the season going by handing the two blues a narrow 48-41 defeat.
That victory follows a thumping 61-37 win over Life Studio Mid West Eyes, which came after a round one loss to the table-topping and still undefeated Vipers.
Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical secured a monumental win on Saturday afternoon, bringing Life Studio’s unbeaten start to the season to an end.
In the day’s opening clash on Sir Neville Howse Stadium’s show court, the Lions fought off the Mardi Aplin-coached navy and lime bibs to win 48-43 in an absolute thriller, which had all the hallmarks of the epics the two sides are renowned for playing out.
Vipers held on to top spot with an easy win over Life Studio Mid West Eyes, downing the young side 56-30, but they may yet be joined at the top by Hawks Royal if the two blues can defeat the Hornets.
That game, originally scheduled for 3.50pm on Saturday afternoon, will now be played at 6.30pm on Thursday night at Kinross.
Hawks face a short turnaround before this weekend’s blockbuster against Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
