Riddell League round 13 A-grade netball this Saturday, July 13, features two crackerjack matches with implications on the double chance.
Reigning premier Woodend-Hesket impressed with a strong win over Riddell on Saturday, and sit in second place just four points behind ladder-leader Wallan.
The Hawks easily have the best percentage and a victory at Wallan this weekend would enable them to replace the Magpies in top spot.
The other big match is at Riddell, with the Bombers at home to a third-placed Macedon side showing consistent form.
Riddell was the pacesetter early in the season but the Bombers seem to have lost their early lustre.
Some teams have had trouble getting their strongest combinations on the court through injury and unavailability.
Foggy conditions prevailed for some early matches last Saturday but the sun shone later with conditions idea for good netball.
At Gilbert Gordon Reserve, Woodend-Hesket players teamed well and accounted for Riddell 52-33, with young star Charlee Duff-Tytler leading the way with 33 goals. Shelby Holter scored 28 for the Bombers.
At Macedon, a cohesive home side accounted for now bottom-of-the-ladder Kyneton 58-34 with Chloe Williams, coach Katie Clarke and Caitlyn Alfraco all in fine form.
Once again Kyneton largely relied on Claire Oakley for goals.
There are six rounds remaining before the finals begin.
COSTLY LOSS
In the highest scoring match of the round, Melton Centrals held off the visiting Romsey combination 62-58 to move six points clear of the Redbacks.
Charlize Bellette led the scoring for sixth-placed Romsey, but to no avail as Centrals held on to inflict a costly defeat on the sixth-placed side.
In the remaining game ladder leader Wallan came from behind to edge out Diggers Rest 52-50.
Current ladder: Wallan 40, Woodend-Hesket 36 (136.11%), Macedon 36 (107.44), Riddell 30, Melton Centrals 28, Romsey 22, Lancefield 16, Diggers Rest 16, Kyneton 16.
Riddell continues to be the pacesetter in B-grade with a 50-33 margin against Woodend-Hesket.
Romsey toppled Centrals 63-52 with Madison Thompson on a scoring spree with 48 – the highest individual tally for the round.
Macedon 50 (Christie Brinkhuis 44) defeated Kyneton 43, and Diggers Rest 61 downed Wallan 39.
Current ladder: Riddell 48, Lancefield 44, Diggers Rest 36, Romsey 32, Macedon 20, Wallan 20, Woodend-Hesket 16, Centrals 12, Kyneton 12.
C-grade: Riddell 38 d Woodend-Hesket 29, Macedon 45 d Kyneton 22, Romsey 49 d Centrals 40, Wallan 33 d Diggers Rest 28.
D-grade: Riddell 22 d Woodend-Hesket 12, Diggers Rest 36 d Wallan 9.
19&Under: Kyneton 36 d Macedon 26, Riddell 46 d Woodend-Hesket 17, Romsey 41 d Centrals 34, Wallan 45 d Diggers Rest 13.
