Local netballers finally returned to the Bev Burrows Courts for their first Narrabri Netball Association 2021 winter season matches in four weeks on Saturday following the recent school holiday break.
Seven rounds were played before that break, which meant that Saturday’s round eight games kicked off the second half of the 14-round campaign.
In the A-grade competition, the top three sides continued where they left off with victories in their respective round eight contests.
Ladder leaders Tourist Tornados scored their eighth consecutive win when they downed sixth-placed Pharmacy Flamingos 41-17.
The Tornados are undefeated in 2021, one win clear at the top of the table ahead of second-placed Wee Waa Flames which won their round eight match 37-10 against fifth-placed Blue Diamonds.
The Flames have won seven of their eight games this season, only losing to the Tornados during the first half of the campaign.
One win back from the Flames in third place is Fever which won 50-8 against seventh-placed Toros on Saturday.
Last-placed Goal Diggers went searching for their first win of the season in the other round eight match, however, they were downed 45-21 by P and P.
P and P entered the round on six points alongside Blue Diamonds and Pharmacy Flamingos and finished the round a win ahead of those two teams in fourth place.
This Saturday in round nine, all four teams in the top half of the table will go head-to-head with a team currently in the bottom half.
Tourist Tornados challenge Blue Diamonds, Wee Waa Flames take on Goal Diggers, Fever meets Pharmacy Flamingos and P and P plays Toros.
In the B-grade competition, Golfie Grubs finished the weekend on top of the table after they had the round eight bye on Saturday for which they picked up two points.
The three B-grade games were won by Vicious Delicious, Big Blues and Thunderbirds.
Vicious Delicious leapfrogged its round eight opponent Goss Gals into second place with a 21-15 win which saw Goss Gals drop from first to third.
Big Blues edged out The Chickies 21-20 while Thunderbirds downed Don’t Stop Ball-ieving 33-25.
In the under-11-13 competition, the teams occupying the top three positions on the ladder all secured two points on Saturday to finish round eight on 12 points each.
First-placed Namoi Cotton Thunderbirds beat fellow Wee Waa team C and W Firebirds 21-2 while third-placed Giants beat fourth-placed Lightning 19-5.
Second-placed side Swifts had the bye.
Under-9/10 competition ladder leaders Valley Vixens earned its eighth consecutive win on Saturday when the Wee Waa girls scored a 19-16 victory against the third-placed Diamonds.
The other game was won by second-placed Sapphires which edged out Emeralds 5-4.
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