Finals continue in Picola League

In the netball, three local clubs are playing this weekend for a shot to make the preliminary finals.

The Blighty Football & Netball Club are featured in the under-13s netball tomorrow, at 10.25am, against Strathmerton.

The Redeyes come off a 28 to 20 win in the elimination final two weeks ago, against the eighth placed Katamatite side.

Representing the Mathoura Football & Netball Club is the under-15s netball side on Sunday, against Tocumwal at 9.20am.

The Timbercutters were victorious in their elimination final against the seventh placed Picola United, 33 to 31.

There are two Deniliquin Rovers Football & Netball Club netball teams playing elimination finals on Sunday - the under-13s and B-grade netball sides.

The under-13s play Rennie, and are looking to bounce back after an 11 to 17 qualifying final loss to the third-placed Tungamah side.

The Rovers B-grade netballers play Katandra at 11.50am.

Similarly, they are out to avenge a qualifying final loss 40 to 48 against the second placed Katunga.

In the football, the Deni Rovers have three teams playing tomorrow.

The fourths and thirds each play Dookie United, from 9.15am and 10.25am respectively.

The seniors will take on Berrigan from 2.15pm.

A fortnight ago, in elimination finals, the fourths had a 12 point win against Strathmerton, 6.7 (43) to 5.1 (31), and the thirds had a 33 point win against Katandra, 11.8 (74) to 5.1 (31).

The senior footballers will also be looking to repeat their result from two weeks ago, when they claimed a 32 point win against Jerilderie - 15.9 (99) to 10.7 (67).

Rovers coach Alex Hay said the team found a way to win that match with a more contested style of football.

“The win against Jerilderie was really good,” he said.

“We knew going into it that it would be a physical encounter, and they probably did a good job of keeping the game in contest a little more than we would have liked.

“In that regard, it was pleasing to get the job done playing a different brand than we have previously, which I think shows how far we have come as a team.

“The fact that we responded to the added pressure of an elimination final - which was, for a lot of our guys, was the first senior final that they had played - and given our history against Jerilderie in big games, it was a great effort to get over the line in the manner that we did.”

This weekend, the Rovers seniors play another Southern Riverina team in the Saints.

Berrigan finished fourth at the end of the home and away season and have seen improved performances since their 54 point loss to the Rovers in round six.

This includes wins against the second and third placed teams - Katandra and Katamatite - despite losing last weekend’s first qualifying final to an undefeated Waaia side by 51 points.

Hay said his team will be wary of a much improved Saints team.

“Berrigan have clearly been the in form side in the comp probably for the last two months of the home and away season, so we certainly have a task ahead of us.

“Obviously, they have added some quality to their list mid-season, which has changed their scoring power forward of the ball. So we will put some time into planning for the game.

“It’s really exciting that some of our players will get the opportunity to match up against some seriously good footballers in a big game.

“Having said that, our team has changed quite a bit since our last encounter as well. So we’ll just plan to play to our strengths, which we’re pretty confident with.”

Following a week off after their elimination final win, Hay said the team will continue to prepare with a preliminary final on the line.

“The boys are pretty fresh. A week off just to rest the niggles and sore spots was much needed, but after the week that we have had on the track, I get the sense that the boys are really just ready to get into it.

“It feels like the end of the season went on a bit, and we are just hungry for some finals action.”