It was a day for firsts when Narrabri Netball Association hosted round 10 of its 2021 winter season at the Bev Burrows Courts on Saturday.
In the A-grade competition, Tourist Tornados lost for the first time in 2021 and Goal Diggers scored their first win of the campaign.
The first drawn game in the B-grade competition was also contested, while in the under-9/10 division, Valley Vixens continued their unbeaten run to wrap up first place on the ladder.
In the A-grade competition, Tourist Tornados went into Saturday’s match against Fever determined to score its 10th consecutive win of the season.
When the two sides met earlier in the year back in round three, the Tornados prevailed 33-32 in a nail-biter. That was Fever’s only on-court loss of the campaign and the side kept that record intact on Saturday with a 37-25 victory against the Tornados.
Third-placed Fever has won eight matches in 2021 and only lost twice, one of which was by forfeit.
The 2019 champions sit just one win back from first place which is now held by Wee Waa Flames which leapfrogged the Tornados on Saturday with a 30-9 win against Toros.
The Flames and the Tornados have both accumulated 18 points this season following nine wins and a loss each.
Meanwhile, fellow Wee Waa side Goal Diggers was victorious for the first time this season when it downed Blue Diamonds 38-29 on Saturday.
The other A-grade game was won by fourth-placed P and P which kept its finals hopes alive with a 20-18 win against Pharmacy Flamingos.
There is now a three-team race for the minor premiership in the top grade. Only Wee Waa Flames, Tourist Tornados or Fever can claim top spot, with P and P mathematically only able to overtake one of the two teams locked on 18 points.
Just like the A-grade competition, there is a new ladder leader in the B-grade division as Vicious Delicious jumped to the top with a 17-12 victory against Golfie Grubs.
The Grubs went into the weekend a win clear at the top of the table but finished in third place after they were overtaken by not only Vicious Delicious but also Goss Gals which downed The Chickies 48-11.
Vicious Delicious, Goss Gals and Golfie Grubs are all on 16 points with four rounds remaining.
The other B-grade game finished as a 15-all draw between Big Blues and Thunderbirds, while Don’t Stop Ball-ieving had the round 10 bye.
In the under-11-13 competition, Giants defeated the Namoi Cotton Thunderbirds 20-15 and Swifts outscored C and W Firebirds 15-3 while Lightning sat out with the round 10 bye.
Those results saw Swifts move into second place and the Thunderbirds drop to third.
Giants are currently first, a point clear of Swifts and two ahead of the Thunderbirds.
The under-9/10 competition’s minor premiership race came to an end with four rounds remaining on Saturday when undefeated Wee Waa side Valley Vixens scored a 9-1 win against Emeralds.
The Vixens have now accumulated a maximum 20 points following 10 wins from as many matches.
In the other game, second-placed Diamonds edged out third-placed Sapphires 5-3.
Narrabri Netball Association’s youngest players highlighted that the sport has a bright future in the town with two entertaining Net Set matches on Saturday. Both games were separated by just one point as Blue beat Green 4-3 and Red beat Pink by the same scoreline.
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