IF the previous seven chapters of the YCW and Calivil United netball rivalry are anything to go by, chapter eight on Saturday is bound to be a classic.
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YCW and Calivil United clash in the LVFNL A-grade preliminary final at Marong, with the winner to play Pyramid Hill in next Saturday’s grand final.
The Eagles and Demons have met seven times over the past two seasons with all seven games resulting in single-figure margins.
Four of those games have been by less than five goals, including all three of this year’s encounters.
This year’s games have been dominated by defence.
No team has scored more than 35 goals, while their qualifying final clash a fortnight ago was a defensive slog, with the Eagles winning 24-19.
Calivil bounced back strongly from that result to win its first semi-final against Newbridge by 12 goals.
Defensively, the Demons have been outstanding in recent weeks.
They haven’t conceded more than 35 goals in a game since their round 12 loss to Pyramid Hill.
Their defensive third will make life tough for an Eagles team which has struggled to score freely in the finals.
The Eagles have only scored 24 goals in each of their two finals this season, albeit one of those games as a win over Calivil.
The preliminary final starts at 2.30pm at Malone Park.
A grand final berth is the prize on offer for North Bendigo and Colbinabbin when they meet in the Heathcote District Netball Association second semi-final at Heathcote.
While North Bendigo finished on top of the ladder, it’s Colbinabbin that enters the second semi-final with the best form.
The Grasshoppers are riding a 13-game winning streak, including a 46-35 win over North Bendigo in round 11.
Defence has been the secret to Colbo’s success. No team since North Bendigo in round 11 has been able to score more than 30 goals against the Grasshoppers.
It’s a clash of the best defence and the best attack. North Bendigo is the most potent team, averaging 57.3 goals per game this year.
In Sunday’s first semi-final at Toolleen, White Hills will be looking to bounce back from its qualifying final loss to Colbo when it tackles Leitchville-Gunbower.
White Hills defeated Leitchville in their two regular season matches, but the Bombers are arguably in season-best form.
They suffered a narrow five-goal loss to North Bendigo in the final home and away round before belting Lockington-Bamawm United by 18 goals in last week’s elimination final.
