The top three Division 1 sides in the KFC Alice Springs Netball Association _ Rovers Complete Construction, Wests Epilogue and Federal Eastside White _ eased their way to next weekend's finals with comfortable wins against their sister sides on Saturday. Epilogue defeated Wests Gillen Club 62- 44, Federal White overcame Federal Eastside Red 44-36 and Construction crushed Rovers TDC 71-33.
The two Wests sides played a game of hot shots with a goal coming almost every 30 seconds. Epilogue shooter Matilda Hurben shot 42 goals to spearhead the team's attacks. At the other end the defenders, Margaret Smith, and Carlee Warburton, kept the Gillen Club shooters under control while Katie Hannah worked hard in the centre court. The win consolidated Epilogue in second place to play Rovers Complete Construction on Saturday while the season is finished for Wests Gillen Club.
A 13-4 second term put Federal White on the path to victory against Federal Red after an even opening quarter. Brooke Wilson was in good form for Red, shooting 11 goals. White defenders Katelyn Paterson and Tahlia Lee tightened their games on Wilson and kept her to three goals. Red made a number of positional changes at half time including switching Wilson with Crystal Dixon, Grace Muir to centre and Charlotte O'Neil from centre to wing attack while Julia Antonelli and Nellie Crellin came on in defence. The moves paid dividends as White won the term 12-10 but could not maintain its form and White won the final stanza 9-8. This result confirmed White in third place and Red in fourth so they will play each other again in the first week of finals. The Rovers result eased it in top. There are 20 semi-finals to be played on Saturday with the Rovers club having 12 teams in action. Seasons, Wests and Federal have 7 each, Giants 6 and Sundowners has 1.
The Division 2 games did not have much effect on the finals. Second-placed Seasons Flinders University won against Federal AKC 56-40, Rovers Complete Construction forfeited to top-side Seasons when trailing 17-43 at three-quarter time but did not lose its fourth place, third-placed Neata Glass Giants eased to a 40-17 victory against Federal Angels and Sundowners Alice Hospitality Supplies defeated Wests Jaws Contracting 61-49. Tilly Muir was an outstanding player for Sundowners netting 47 goals for the game.
In Division 3 second-placed Wests Footy Girls showed the form that has earned it second place with a 37-27 win against Federal P&V Flames, third-placed Wests Ward Keller defeated Giants GSD Solutions 48-27, top-side Giants Alice Springs Brewing Co defeated Federal Queens (fourth) 48-37 and Rovers BnTz 37-26.
There was some excitement in the Division 4 games with a semi-final preview between top--two sides finishing with one goal the difference. Second-placed Giants Dreamers defeated minor premier Seasons 32-31. Seasons began well to hold a two-goal advantage at quarter time, but Giants fought back with 10 goals to seven in the next 15 minutes. Sophie Hunt was in good form in the attack circle for Giants and scored 21 goals for the game. Raging Rovers grabbed fourth place with a draw against Wests Jaws Contracting thanks to a 10-5 final term. Wests looked in the winner's seat at the final change after a 10-goal third period before Rovers recovery.
The two Sundowners teams, Club Eastside and Gap View Hotel, had a game despite both not being in the finals there was plenty to play for between the sister sides. Club Eastside came away with the honours 30-24. Third-placed Wests Loco Burrito was denied a chance for a warm-up for the finals with Giants Alice Kustom Paint Supplies forfeiting their game.
Top 17-and-under team Federal Red overpowered third-placed Giants Bark 'n' Bath 74-15. The team shared shooting responsibility with Coco Cavilier netting 23 in two quarters. Second-placed Rovers Ravens had a comfortable win against fourth-placed sister-side Rovers Raptors 36-18 and Rovers Wreckers defeated Wests 27-8.
