Orange Physiotherapy Vipers need only to win this weekend to secure the Orange Netball Association Toyota Cup minor title and while that would normally be motivation enough, there’s more spurring the navy and teal bibs on.
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“There is a bit of extra motivation because our patron, Norma Corse (nee Rauchle) isn’t very well at the moment,” Vipers coach Lynne Middleton said.
“All the players have been up to see her and spent a bit of time with her, which is really nice, so yes, in a way I think we’re definitely trying to do it for Norma. She’s our patron but she’s also a great friend.
“That minor premiership is something we really want to win too, especially after what happened last year.”
Last year Vipers were sitting second with three regular-season rounds remaining and were still in contention for the minor title, but dropped two of those last three games to slide down to third.
They were ultimately bounced out of the finals by eventual premiers Orange City.
This year though, Vipers have either led the competition or been in a share for that lead for the entire season. Outside one slip-up – their lone loss to Orange City Craig Harvey Mechanical in round nine – they’ve been close to flawless.
Middleton’s troops have won their other 12 games, have the best defensive record in the competition by 99 goals and are second best on the attacking stakes too, only Hawks Royals sit above them there.
“I never really mind having a loss (during the regular season), it’s winning the big ones that matter after all,” Middleton said.
“That one was a pretty good wake-up call for us I think, we started slowly that day which we normally don’t and before we knew it Orange City’s lead was unassailable.
“But we’ve bounced back really well from that, the girls have been training really well and we’ve played some good netball since.”
Vipers’ minor premiership aspirations come down to Saturday’s final-round clash with OHS Hornets, a side Middleton rates as one of the competition’s in-form sides.
That’s not surprising, they’ve built throughout the season and comfortably took down Hawks DVM last weekend to claim their second victory, a 51-31 win.
“There’s a lot of Hornets players we really need to watch, they’ve become quite a formidable outfit, Tegan (Dray, OHS coach) has done a really good job with them. It’s incredible to see where they are now, compared to the start of the season,” Middleton said, adding it’s a real danger game considering the standings.
Vipers sit two points in front of Orange City CHM. Should the Hornets cause and upset and the Lions down Hawks DVM, the minor title would be decided by percentages, where Vipers do also hold an advantage.
“I know Orange City would love nothing more than to see the Hornets knock us off, but I think even if that happened we’d still get over the line. Winning would take that off the table, of course,” Middleton said.
Saturday’s clash will be slightly tougher than the average punter may think for Vipers, they’ll be without a couple of key players, although Middleton kept her cards close to her chest on that one.
“Let’s just say we’re missing a couple of defenders, I don’t want to give Tegan or the Orange High girls too much information,” she laughed.
Vipers face the Hornets from 3.50pm at Sir Neville Howse Stadium, the last of the afternoon’s four division one games.
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Life Studio Mid West Eyes take on Life Studio in a final-round derby, that won’t have any impact on the finals as both are out of contention, from 1.10pm.
After that third place goes on the line in a bumper clash between the Royals and Orange City Newey’s Drive-Thru Cleaners from 2.30pm, with Orange City CHM and Hawks DVM playing at the same time too.
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