HDNL | Finals race to go down to the wire

By Bransen Gibson

Jul 31, 2022

Hands up: Leitchville-Gunbower’s Madison Elliott in action against Colbinabbin earlier this season. The Bombers are one of four teams fighting it out for the last finals spot in the HDNL. Photo: Bransen Gibson

The Heathcote District Netball League is set for a thrilling conclusion to the season with four clubs battling it out for the last finals spot.

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Heading into the final round of the year, four clubs still have a shot at finishing fifth on the ladder — Lockington-Bamawm United, Leitchville-Gunbower, Huntly and Heathcote — while top spot is also still up for grabs.

LBU coach Jess Hardess said the race for finals was almost unbelievably tight.

“It’s the tightest finals race I have seen, in my netball career anyway,” Hardess said.

“It’s not often that you have four teams fighting it out for fifth spot.”

The Cats currently sit in fifth spot, tied on points with Leitchville-Gunbower and Huntly, but they missed a chance to boost their finals chances after falling to Colbinabbin by nine goals at the weekend.

A fast-starting Hoppers outfit got the jump on LBU, with the Cats unable to overcome the early deficit.

Hardess said the slow start was costly, with the result a missed opportunity for her side.

“Obviously, it was disappointing. We won the second half of the game, but we got off to a really, really slow start,“ she said.

“Colbo played probably the best that I have seen them play. They really gelled and came out firing. They obviously want to get fired up before finals and they really showed what they could do as a team.

“It’s out of our hands now, which is a bit disheartening. It’s the same as the game against Leitchville-Gunbower — they were close games where we didn’t play to our normal standard and it’s a completely missed opportunity, but unfortunately that’s the way it goes.”

Fortunately for LBU, results elsewhere went in its favour. Leitchville-Gunbower lost to White Hills 54-30, while Huntly was overpowered by Elmore 84-25, meaning the Cats still have a chance of finishing fifth.

But heading into the final round of the season, the Cats will still need help to reach the finals.

LBU (5-10) will take on Elmore (14-1), while Leitchville-Gunbower (5-9) will face Heathcote (4-11) and Huntly (5-10) will square off against White Hills (14-1).

If the Bombers can beat the Saints they will move into fifth, barring a stunning upset by the Hawks or Cats.

LBU needs Heathcote to win, while hoping a percentage swing doesn’t see the Saints actually jump it in the process.

At the top of the ladder, both Elmore and White Hills will be hoping to finish on top. With identical win-loss records, only percentage separates the two sides, with the margin in their final games of the season potentially key.