Murray Netball League round 14 brought a variety of emotions for the local contingent.
Congupna and Rumbalara, involved in home fixtures on Saturday, came in with the same goal, but very different implications.
The Road was sitting on the mathematical bubble, likely not factoring finals into discussions anyway, but nonetheless technically still alive in welcoming Nathalia to town.
The opportunity was convenient, with the visiting Purples occupying the bottom finals place that Congupna was still an outside shot at obtaining if a raft of things went right in the final month.
Image 1 of 10
Nathalia’s Rebecca Bohn has eyes on the ring. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 10
Nathalia's Olivia Tilyard gets on the move in the midcourt. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 10
Congupna's Kate Boswell goes back outside the arc with a pass. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 10
Congupna’s Gemma Boyd assesses moves up ahead. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 10
Congupna’s Sarah O'Sullivan stays alert attempting to block. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 10
Congupna’s Morgan Zotti was busy as expected for a centre. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 10
Nathalia’s Amy Brooks kicked off plenty of scoring plays in a victorious side. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 10
Nathalia’s Rebecca Bohn and Congupna’s Sarah Spillman jostle for spots as the ball comes in. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 9 of 10
Congupna’s Sarah O'Sullivan casts her gaze towards the middle. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 10 of 10
Nathalia’s Amy Brooks and Congupna’s Gemma Boyd contest in a tight spot. Photo by Rechelle ZammitThe courts at Memorial Park appeared poised to host an even showing at first, with only two goals in it as the visitors scraped ahead at the first change.
The Road took the task in stride through the second term as well, going blow for blow with the more fancied north-western outfit, but the Purples eventually established some breathing room after the league’s third-best defence held Congupna to five third-quarter goals.
From there, Nathalia simply had to run out the last 15 minutes to stroll in with an eventual 40-29 victory, collecting a vital set of four points that establishes a two-game gap to seventh-placed Mulwala.
The side Nathalia can thank for such a buffer? Undefeated Rumbalara.
The seemingly impenetrable Shepparton-based side welcomed the Lions to its recently renovated facility, flying high from the start with aspirations of a 14th straight win.
A barnstorming 17-7 opening term laid a solid enough foundation to cover for a hotly-contested final three quarters as Mulwala showed plenty of fight.
The points would have been plenty handy as Mulwala actually narrowly claimed the second term and broke even in the last, but the damage was done as the Rumba girls inched ever closer to the minor premiership with a 48-35 win.
That said, there remains just enough seeds of doubt sown by Moama, which refuses to give up the chase sitting two games back.
The Magpies held off a tough Deniliquin side in what was a battle of two top-four sides at the time, but Moama’s 48-40 triumph sent the competition’s northernmost outfit back to fifth after other results came in.
Perhaps the weekend’s biggest individual plaudits would fall to Tongala, which brutalised Numurkah in the battle of Blues to snatch third spot following the Rams’ defeat, overpowering their foes 72-27.
Finley happily moved up to occupy fourth as well, overcoming a stiff early challenge from Barooga to run out a 58-30 winner primarily off the back of a stunning second-quarter display where the Hawks were held to two goals.
With Echuca United eliminated from finals contention and Cobram needing a win to retain any faint hopes, the Eagles successfully dragged the Tigers down with them — not that they’d be terribly happy about it.
After trailing at every change, United finally pegged the visitors back late, but couldn’t find the decisive run of goals to claim four points as the sides settled for a 32-32 draw.