Pinjarra and Waroona’s netballers will meet in a top of the table blockbuster this Friday night, and the match could prove to be season-defining for both squads.
The two met in the 2017 grand final and not much has changed since, with both still sitting pretty in the top two as Pinjarra leads the pack followed by the Demons only one win behind.
But their round 12 meeting has the potential to have big implications on the year.
A win would see the Tigers skip to two games clear of the Demons on the table, and almost assure them top spot at the end of the regular season given they’ve lost just one game on the year so far.
They also have a percentage that’s a shade better than Waroona’s, thanks mainly to the fact they have coughed up the fewest goals of any team.
But on the flip side, a win for the Demons has the potential to rocket them back into first place, and at the least would even their record with the Tigers.
Both will head into the game on the back of healthy wins in round 12, after Waroona disposed of Mandurah 65-43 while Pinjarra topped Halls Head 55-36 with reigning MVP Kara Wogan-Browne leading the scoring with 44 goals.
Behind them on the table, loving the fact that one of them will have to lose this game, sits Rockingham on an 8-3 record.
A Pinjarra loss would bring the Rams within one game of joining the top spot rat race, while a loss for Waroona gives Rockingham (who hold a better percentage than the Demons) the chance to jump into second spot.
The Rams are in good touch after a 60-44 win over Centrals, and will look to keep their form alive when they take on Mandurah this Sunday.
Meanwhile Baldivis managed to jump into the top four over the weekend, after taking the points over South Mandurah who forfeit.
The match between Pinjarra and Waroona will be held at the Murray Leisure Centre on Friday, 7.30pm, while South Mandurah takes on Halls Head at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre at 8pm.
Centrals and Baldivis kick off the Sunday games with a meeting at Mundijong Oval at 12pm, while Rockingham hosts Mandurah at 12.30pm.
Reserves
The reserves competition isn’t seeming quite as competitive as its league counterpart, with Rockingham in total control following a 61-21 win over Centrals that stretched their unbeaten run to 11 straight games.
South Mandurah remains just behind them in second after they took their eighth win of the year 57-42 over Baldivis thanks to Kameron Bazzo’s 38 goals, while Waroona sits third after doubling Mandurah’s score 58-29.
Pinjarra rounds out the remainder of the top four after taking down Centrals with a whopping 76-29 victory.
Open
Much like Pinjarra and Waroona in the league, South Mandurah and Halls Head’s open sides will meet in a top-two battle on Friday night.
Both the Falcons and Lightning go in with stunning 10-1 records following wins over Baldivis and Pinjarra respectively last weekend, but one will leave this round’s clash as the clear ladder leader.
Again, much like the league, Rockingham sits in third and will likely benefit from either result of the game after they took down Centrals 61-40 in round 11.
Waroona sits in fourth after a win over Mandurah 50-37.