Top three storming away in NNA A-grade race to the finals

There are now just five rounds left to play in Narrabri Netball Association’s 2021 winter competition regular season following Saturday’s round nine contests at the Bev Burrows Courts.

In A-grade, the top three continued to break away from the rest of the pack after all three were victorious.

First-placed Tourist Tornados did not even have to take the court after their round nine opponents Blue Diamonds forfeited that match.

Second-placed Wee Waa Flames won an all-Wee Waa match-up 35-20 against Goal Diggers, while third-placed Fever beat Pharmacy Flamingos 39-22.

Those wins saw the Tornados finish the round with 18 points, two clear of Flames (16 points) and four clear of Fever (14 points).

Fourth-placed P and P went into the match just two wins back from Fever, however, the side’s finals chances took a blow when they went down 28-17 against Toros.

That win was the seventh-placed side’s second of the season.

Ladder leaders Tourist Tornados will return to the court this Saturday when they challenge Fever in a blockbuster round 10 clash. In the other three games, Wee Waa Flames take on Toros, Blue Diamonds meet Goal Diggers and P and P plays Pharmacy Flamingos.

The three B-grade matches played on Saturday were all won by the competition’s top three sides as the gap between third and fourth was also extended to six points.

First-placed Golfie Grubs moved to a competition-best 16 points following a 37-24 win against Don’t Stop Ball-ieveing.

Vicious Delicious and Goss Gals are ranked second and third respectively, both on 14 points. Vicious Delicious beat Thunderbirds 20-15 and Goss Gals outscored Big Blues 41-24 while The Chickies had the round nine bye.

In the under-11-13 competition, three teams entered the round on 12 points and two moved to 14. They were first-placed Namoi Cotton Thunderbirds which had the round nine bye and second-placed Giants which downed C and W Firebirds 19-4.

Third-placed Swifts finished the round on 13 points after it drew its round nine game 11-all against fourth-placed Lightning.

Under-9/10 competition ladder leaders Valley Vixens extended their 2021 winning streak to nine games following a 13-2 win against Sapphires.

Second-placed Diamonds beat Emeralds 15-6 in the other match.