IT HAS been a long time since the Mininera and District Netball Association A Grade ladder has been as tight as it now is at the end of the 2014 home and away season.
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Only two points separate first and fourth place, all teams winning 12 matches for the year. It is lining up to be a terrific finals' series, with all five clubs more than capable of taking the premiership honours.
Glenthompson Dunkeld has dropped from top to third on the ladder after a shock two goal loss to Moyston/Willaura on Saturday.
The Rams seemed in control for the majority of the match, getting off to a five goal lead at the end of the first quarter, playing strong, fast and skilled netball.
However, the Pumas played a steady kind of game after that, slowly pegging back the lead as the game progressed.
In the last quarter the Rams led by five goals with about five minutes to go when the Pumas gained a couple of crucial intercepts and converted on the scoreboard.
Moyston/Willaura's momentum continued, resulting in a two goal win at full time.
Kira Stapleton played her best game of the year, shooting well and providing plenty of drive into the forward half of the court.
Stapleton was ably assisted by Georgie Eastick, who played extremely well under constant pressure from her opponent Kate Couchman.
Wickliffe/Lake Bolac played a severely depleted Ararat at Lake Bolac and took an easy win to surge into the final five, knocking Penshurst out in the process.
The Magpies have only lost one match since round eight after a slow start to the season and have well and truly earned their top five spot.
Strong play all over the court was seen by Wickliffe Lake Bolac with Brooke Clark again dominant in defence and Tayla Notting a tireless worker in the centre court.
Ararat was far from fielding its best side, illness and injuries sidelining a number of A Grade players. Sarah West and Lisa Haddow were named best for their efforts.
Tatyoon ended its season with a win against SM&W Rovers. The Hawks played a steady style of netball, extending their lead over the Bulldogs at each quarter break.
Sara Kinnersly once again starred for Tatyoon on the goal circle, working hard with junior player Jane Astbury.
Harmony Newman earned best player honours for her work in defence for her team. Rovers had good players in Courtney McCrow and reliable defender Liz Williams.
In a positive end to its season Hawkesdale/Macarthur celebrated a win over Great Western.
The scores were tight at quarter time, with the Eagles only three goals up, they rectified that with a 16 goal second quarter, taking the half time lead to 15 goals.
Great Western fought back in the third with an 11 to 10 goal quarter, but could not sustain the intensity and went down eventually by 25 goals.
Lee-Ann Moana and Holly Leggett were Great Western's best.
In other results, Lismore/Derrinallum is probably considered the luckiest club of the round, as they shot back to the top of the ladder after drawing with the much lower placed Caramut.
The Swans pushed the Demons all the way, shooting extremely well and placing terrific pressure all over the court.
Lismore/Derrinallum will now enjoy a week off before their finals' campaign kicks off.
Woorndoo/Mortlake started off firing, but only just survived a Penshurst comeback, Tigers winning by five goals.
Results
A grade
Hawkesdale Macarthur 50 (R Mcgrath, G Linke) def Great Western 25 (L Moana, H Leggett); SM&W Rovers 34 (CN McCrow, L Williams) lost to Tatyoon 52 (S Kinnersly, H Newman); Wickliffe Lake Bolac 51 (B Clark, T Notting) Ararat 20 (S West, L Haddow); Lismore Derrinallum 47 (B Mcphee, L Mclennan) drew with Caramut 47 (A Bloomfield, H Delaney); Woorndoo-Mortlake 39 (G Muir, A Greig) def Penshurst 34 (C Behncke, A Cottrill); Glenthompson-Dunkeld 32 (K Wear, K Couchman) lost to Moyston Willaura 34 (K Stapleton, G Eastick).
Ladder: Lismore Derrinallum 50 (points), 137.59 (%); Woorndoo Mortlake 50, 130.86; Glenthompson Dunkeld 48, 151.38; Moyston Willaura 48, 139.09; Wickliffe Lake Bolac 40, 116.14; Penshurst 36, 111.30; Tatyoon 36, 104.63; Hawkesdale Macarthur 34, 98.25; Ararat 24, 85.37; Caramut 10, 72.48; SM&W Rovers 4, 64.68; Great Western 4, 53.74.
B grade
Hawkesdale Macarthur 37 (R Cameron, L Addinsall) lost to Great Western 48 (C Walter, T Cadzow); SM&W Rovers 35 (S Perry, S McKay) def Tatyoon 22 (B McDougall, B Harris); Wickliffe Lake Bolac 25 (J Pullinger, J Grist) lost to Ararat 26 (C Rafferty, K Driscoll); Lismore Derrinallum 42 (S Jolly, M Henderson) def Caramut 24 (C Meade, S Mcphee); Woorndoo Mortlake 38 (D Greig, M Muir) def Penshurst 15 (J Rentsch, A Mullins); Glenthompson Dunkeld 28 (J Parker, B Watts) def Moyston Willaura 24 (J Jackson, G Cocking).
Ladder: Woorndoo Mortlake 56 (points), 177.57 (%); SM&W Rovers 48, 131.17; Glenthompson Dunkeld 48, 125.12; Hawkesdale Macarthur 44, 125.56; Lismore Derrinallum 40, 125.45; Great Western 40, 118.00; Tatyoon 32, 86.30; Moyston Willaura 28, 112.14; Ararat 28, 91.36; Penshurst 12, 77.52; Caramut 4, 56.86; Wickliffe Lake Bolac 4, 44.76.
C grade
Hawkesdale Macarthur 22 (V Jackson, G Huglin) def Great Western 12 (R Mcdonald, A Clugston); SM&W Rovers 5 (T Burrell, J Randall) lost to Tatyoon 40 (C Joyce, H Astbury); Wickliffe Lake Bolac 14 (S Maniapoto, L Givhan) lost to Ararat 29 (J Leggett, K Muller); Lismore Derrinallum 20 (F Kent, S Hally Burton) lost to Caramut 26 (J Williams, J O'Sullivan); Woorndoo Mortlake 41 (R Kleeven, G Couch) def Penshurst 15 (A Smith, K Landwehr); Glenthompson Dunkeld 16 (not supplied) drew with Moyston Willaura 16 (C Baird, K Pitcher).
Ladder: Woorndoo Mortlake 64 (points), 221.15 (%); Ararat 48, 146.64; Lismore Derrinallum 48, 141.43; Tatyoon 44, 155.09; Caramut 44, 138.14; Glenthompson Dunkeld 40, 119.66; Hawkesdale Macarthur 28, 88.83; Moyston Willaura 24, 87.47; Penshurst 20, 86.10; Great Western 12, 54.19; Wickliffe Lake Bolac 10, 50.23; SM&W Rovers 2, 36.50.
17 & Under
Hawkesdale Macarthur 33 (J Greenburger, A Gow) def Great Western 22 (not supplied); SM&W Rovers 24 (T Chilton, O Mulcahy) lost to Tatyoon 48 (M Astbury, C Phillips); Lismore Derrinallum 26 (J Cheslett E Kinnear) def Caramut 14 (not supplied); Woorndoo Mortlake 17 (R Eldridge, A Frost) lost to Penshurst 47 (L Rentsch, R Mibus); Glenthompson Dunkeld 43 (G Gilbert, S Meyers) def Moyston Willaura 16 (B Morgan E Skubnik).
Ladder: Tatyoon 64 (points), 260.34 (%); Glenthompson Dunkeld 54, 181.54; Wickliffe Lake Bolac 50, 173.94; Penshurst 48, 211.36; Hawkesdale Macarthur 44, 158.36; Woorndoo Mortlake 36, 102.95; SM&W Rovers 32, 96.39; Great Western 24, 49.28; Moyston Willaura 12, 60.30; Lismore Derrinallum 12, 41.92; Caramut 8, 22.19.
15 & Under
Hawkesdale Macarthur 19 (A Gow, C Edwards) def Great Western 7 (J Clugston, K Burmester); Wickliffe Lake Bolac 14 (L Millear, T Hughes) lost to Ararat 17 (G Dunmore, G Harrison); Woorndoo Mortlake 20 (B Humphrey S McGuigan) def Penshurst 18 (B Mirtschin O Waters); Glenthompson Dunkeld 4 (L Ross G Fort) lost to Moyston Willaura 35 (R Nailon-Williamson, L Argall).
Ladder: Woorndoo Mortlake 58 (points), 224.26 (%); Moyston Willaura 56, 208.47; Tatyoon 56, 192.41; Penshurst 46, 101.55; Hawkesdale Macarthur 40, 116.30; Glenthompson Dunkeld 32, 67.66; Great Western 28, 82.31; Ararat 28, 51.09; Lismore Derrinallum 16, 50.00; Wickliffe Lake Bolac 16, 31.79.
13 & Under
Hawkesdale Macarthur 30 (S Milgate, G Nield) def Great Western 18 (H Goodinge, K Martin); SM&W Rovers 17 (B McKay-Haines, J Gigliotti) lost to Tatyoon 22 (S Carter, H Wigg); Wickliffe Lake Bolac 28 (L Millear, K Millear) def Ararat 15 (G Dunmore, C Tate); Lismore Derrinallum vs Caramut (not supplied); Woorndoo Mortlake 9 (A Roxburgh, J Killen) lost to Penshurst 16 (I Mills, J Rentsch); Glenthompson Dunkeld 19 (A Mcarthur, H Phillips) def Moyston Willaura 13 (K Skubnik, D McLoughlan).
Ladder: Hawkesdale Macarthur 64 (points), 313.28 (%); Wickliffe Lake Bolac 54, 159.80; Tatyoon 48, 217.34; Lismore Derrinallum 44, 140.22; SM&W Rovers 36, 152.35; Glenthompson Dunkeld 34, 97.55; Great Western 30, 113.81; Penshurst 28, 77.13; Ararat 24, 69.36; Woorndoo Mortlake 14, 66.53; Moyston Willaura 8, 39.58; Caramut 0, 11.08.