Final four determined

The first round of the three-week Narrabri Netball Association finals series was contested at the Bev Burrows Courts on Saturday.

In all four grades the teams ranked third took on the teams which finished sixth, while the fourth- and fifth-placed teams went head-to-head.

In seven of the eight contests it was the top-ranked side which progressed to this Saturday’s playoff matches.

There are now just four teams remaining in each of the four grades, which will be cut down to two this Saturday ahead of the September 21 grand finals.

Seven of the eight scheduled games were played in the first round of the finals on Saturday.

There was a forfeit in the A-grade competition which saw third-placed Blue Diamonds advance to week two of the finals with the sixth-placed Golfie Grubs unable to assemble a team for the match.

In the other A-grade match NWC took on the RSL Babes and secured a 43-34 win.

In B-grade the third-placed Wee Waa Flames outscored sixth-ranked side Vicious Delicious 50-11, while fourth-placed Electric Chicks defeated fifth-placed Waisted Potential 38-21.

In the under-11-13s competition the third-placed C and W Firebirds defeated sixth-ranked Diamonds 16-6, and fourth-placed Lightning won 14-8 against fifth-placed Magpies.

In the under-9/10 division third-placed Rubies got the job done against sixth-placed WWBC Swifts with a 21-4 victory.

The other match saw fifth-placed Opals defeat fourth-placed Namoi Giants 15-6.

Those results saw this weekend’s grand final playoff matches set in stone.

It the eight matches that will be contested this weekend the highest ranked team will take on the lowest ranked team.

In the A-grade, B-grade and under-11-13 competitions the minor premiers will take on the team which finished fourth, while the second and third-placed sides go head-to-head.

In the under-9/10 division the team that finished first will play the team which was ranked fifth while the second- and third-placed teams meet one another.