Orange Physiotherapy Vipers, Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical, Orange City Newey’s Drive-Thru Cleaners and Hawks Royals – ladies and gentleman, your Orange Netball Association Toyota Cup semi-finalists.
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Although the competition still has one regular-season round to be run and won, thanks to the results from last weekend’s penultimate games the four sides that will contest this year’s play-offs are now locked in.
The ladder reveals Vipers will play Orange City CHM in the major semi-final while Orange City NDTC will take on Hawks Royals regardless of this weekend’s results, however there is still some wiggle room.
Vipers are two points in front of Orange City CHM and as a result the minor premiership remains up for grabs, while the difference between third and fourth is also just two points.
Vipers and Orange City CHM maintained their top two spots with big wins over Hawks Royals (40-29) and Life Studio Mid West Eyes (74-34) respectively on the weekend.
Despite the Royals’ loss, Orange City NDTC taking down Life Studio (57-51) ensured the two blues will stay in the finals frame.
The navy and lime bibs are four points adrift of the top four, an unassailable gap with one round left, and in a rare situation will miss the finals completely.
The other thing that jumps off the standings’ page is both of Orange City’s sides locking a spot up in the first year they’ve split their talent across their outfits evenly.
“From a club perspective we’re really happy with that and proud of the effort so far, so fingers crossed we can continue the good performances this weekend and then into the finals as well,” Orange City CHM mid-courter Tegan Dray said.
Dray had more reason to smile on Saturday afternoon too, the OHS Hornets side she coaches thumped Hawks DVM by 20 goals to pick up just their second win of the season.
Dray did mention the 51-31 scoreline didn’t reflect the two blues’ performance, but said she was stoked with the black and golds’.
“I was really, really happy with Saturday’s win, I think the biggest thing is that the side put together four good quarters of netball, which is something we haven’t been able to do consistently this season,” she explained, the Hornets’ last win came over Hawks DVM as well, back in round six.
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“Most of the time I don’t really think big scorelines really reflect the intensity of the games, it was a tough hit-out. We’ve been working on quite a few things at training and they were able to incorporate that on Saturday which was pleasing as well.”
Dray said the ideal way for her Hornets to finish would obviously be with a win, easier said than done against the experienced, competition-leading Vipers though, a side that’s looked destined to claim the minor premiership since early in the season.
“More than anything I’d just like them go out there and enjoy their last game,” Dray said.
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