Currently just outside the top six, Tongala will likely need to put together a strong finish to the Murray Football League season to play finals.
Seven matches remain in Murray Football Netball League, as sides across both competitions will return from a general bye to battle for finals spots down the home stretch.
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In football, Congupna is still undefeated and leads all-comers in first, 10 points clear of second-placed Nathalia.
The Purples and third-placed Mulwala are on 32 points, but only one game ahead of the three sides occupying fourth, fifth and sixth, which are Cobram, Numurkah and Moama.
Also in the finals conversation is Tongala, which sits seventh and only a game behind the Magpies.
Outside of The Road, no side in the competition’s top six is safe in its current position, such is the tight nature of the standings.
Local sides Moama and Tongala are well in the race to secure a post-season appearance, the Magpies having won six straight games, while the Blues’ win over Cobram last time out kept them in the hunt.
In round 14, Moama travels to Mulwala for one of its tougher challenges of the season, and another win for the Magpies would put them level on points with the Lions.
Meanwhile, Tongala hosts Numurkah in a huge clash between two finals contenders, a win for Jordan Souter’s team critical if it wants to break into the top six.
Echuca United is unlikely to make finals at this stage of the season, sitting behind Tongala in eighth and 14 points off sixth.
The Eagles are the only side to have taken points off Congupna this season, though followed that result with a home loss to Finley last time out.
Should Francis Lias’ side make a late push for post-season football this year, it will have to start in round 14, with a trip to bottom-placed Rumbalara an ideal match-up.
Moama has won seven straight matches in Murray Netball League, putting it in a strong position in third on the ladder.
In the A-grade netball competition, Mulwala and Nathalia are currently first and second, respectively.
Both sides are two games clear of third-placed Moama, which is on a seven-game winning streak, though that will be tested when the Magpies travel to Mulwala next.
Moama hasn’t faced the Lions yet, its only previous meeting with a side currently above it on the table coming against Nathalia in round five, which the Magpies lost by 26 goals.
Should Carri Carter’s side notch an eighth successive win at Lonsdale Recreation Reserve, it will only be four points behind Mulwala, and potentially only a game off first.
Tongala is just behind Moama in fourth and the Blues have been inconsistent recently, without consecutive wins since rounds eight and nine.
Abby Pettifer’s team did defeat Cobram last time out and is favoured to get past Numurkah in round 14.
A win for Tongala would go a long way to helping secure its spot in the top six, given Numurkah is seventh and there is currently a 10-point gap between the sides.
Rounding out the competition’s current finals make-up is Rumbalara in fifth and Deniliquin in sixth.
Elsewhere, like their football clubmates, Echuca United’s A-grade netball side is also eighth.
Leesa Hooppell’s side has been in good form, having won three of its past four matches.
A spot in the post-season is unlikely for the Eagles, who are still 10 points adrift of sixth, though the young side is building confidence, which it will take into a tough encounter against Rumbalara in round 14.
All Murray league sides will be back in action on Saturday, July 11.
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