BY NATHAN DOLE
MURRABIT takes on Macorna in this Saturday’s second semi-final of A-grade netball in the Golden Rivers FNL.
At stake is being first to the grand final to be played on September 16 at Murrabit.
The second semi-final showdown between the Blues and Tigers starts at 12.15pm on the Ultima Recreation Reserve court.
A 13-3 run by Murrabit in the home-and-away series included a 44-33 victory at Macorna in the fifth round, and 48-35 win at home in the ninth round.
Latest meeting between the teams was in round 14 at Macorna where the Tigers clawed their way to a 42-41 victory.
Macorna ended the regular season with a 12-4 record.
As the winner of Saturday’s match advances to the grand final the defeated will face Moulamein in the preliminary final on September 9 at Macorna.
The Swans scored a 44-33 win in last Saturday’s first semi-final against Ultima on the Moulamein South court.
Second semi-final day features two other teams from Murrabit.
In B-grade, Murrabit takes on Moulamein from 1.30pm.
These teams have met four times in the run to the finals.
Murrabit won its home games the Swans in rounds seven and 16, 40-31 and 30-28.
The season began with a clash between the Swans and Blues at Moulamein.
On that day the Blues marked a 35-27 victory.
Moulamein did beat the Blues, 35-32 in the 11th round on the Swans’ court.
Last Saturday it was Macorna which beat Ultima, 40-26 in the first semi-final.
The B-reserve second semi-final features Hay and Ultima from 2.45pm.
An unbeaten run by the Hay Lions includes a 32-30 win at home against the Kangaroos at Ultima in round one.
In round seven the Lions roared in a 54-37 victory on the Kangaroos’ court.
Hay also won the round 11 and 16 matches, 40-33 and 56-44.
In the first semi, Murrabit marked a 52-35 win against Macorna.
It’s a showdown between the Roos and Lions as Ultima takes on Hay in the 17-under second semi at 11am.
Ultima won the first three of this season’s matches against Hay by margins of eight, 12 and 12 goals.
Most recent meeting was in the 16th round where it was a 42-all draw on Ultima’s court.
In the first semi, Wandella beat Moulamein, 49-28.
First on court on second semi-final day will be the 14-under teams from Murrabit and Ultima at 9.45am.
This season’s meetings stand at two-one in favour of Ultima.
The Roos won 33-19 at Murrabit in the fourth round, but the Blues struck back for a 36-25 victory at Ultima in the 10th round.
Ultima won a great contest in the 15th round, 41-38 on Murrabit’s court.
Hay will await to face the Kangaroos or Blues in the preliminary final.