The old sporting adage that it does not matter how you play to make the finals as long as you do rang true in the Alice Springs Netball Association Division 1 semi-final on Saturday.
Federal Eastside Red proved that as long as you are there you have a chance of winning. Considered the second Federal team after the six-time premiership team followed an ASNA directive for all Division 1 teams to be split in two teams, it defeated the number one Federal team Federal Eastside White 59-36.
The game began evenly with Red holding a 9‐ 7 advantage at the first break. This slender aďvantage was made more when quality defender Ķatelyn Paterson couldn’t continue after the break. White had to restructure. It did this by "robbing Peter to pay Paul" and moving Tahlia Lee to the keeper's position and Eliza Boulton into the circle defender's role. Red rattled on 20 goals in the second term as Red's combination of Brooke Wilson and Tegan Hatzimihail outpointed the makeshift defence.
White scored five as it missed Lee's drive down the court.
Rovers Complete Construction continued its domination with a 51-42 win against Wests Epilogue in the qualifying semi-finaĺ. There was not much between the two sides all game. Rovers held a ninegoal lead at half-time break forcing Wests players to up their effort. This produced the highest scoring quarter of the match with the two teams combining to score a total of 29 goals _ the most in any quarter of the game. Wests won the quarter but not by enough to win the right to go straight
through to grand final. The scene was set for an epic final quarter, but it was Rovers that responded by adding 14-goals to 10.
In Division 2, Seasons won the battle with its daughter team Seasons Flinders University 56- 37 Uni had no answer to former top grade shooter Mai Segi who shot 42 goals to three-quarter time after which she was rested. The mother side won the final term 9-6 even without Segi dominating the attack circle as she had for three quarters.
Rovers Complete Construction shot 20 goals to 12 in the second half to defeat Neata Glass Giants 32-28. Nicole Little shot 12 second half goals for Rovers to keep the side's premiership dream alive.
In a high-scoring Division 3 game, Wests Ward Keller defeated Federal Queens 46-38. Angels Coulthard led the scoring for Wests with 35 goals. The other Division 3 semi-final was also free scoring with Giants Alice Springs Brewing Co defeating Wests Footy Girls 52-37.
Fifteen goals in the second half to Lauren Fleur spearheaded Wests Loco Burrito's 22 to come from behind to defeat Raging Rovers 41-32 in their Division 4 semi-final. Seasons won the other Division 4 semi-final 44-28 against Giants Dreamers.
The closest semi-final of the seniors was Giants Bark 'n' Bath's 32-27 win against Rovers Raptors. Raptors began well scoring 9-5 in the first term. Both made changes at the break, but Giants brought better results as it scored 11 goals to five in the next 15 minutes. The other game was the most onesided as Federal Red defeated Rovers Ravens 55-22.
