Saints, Lions could pull back points

CARDROSS, the only team to have taken points off Bambill this MFNL A Grade season, get another shot at the league’s top team at Mildura Senior College this Saturday.

The Lions held the Saints to a 50-50 stalemate in round six after rallying back from a five-point three-quarter time deficit, but this will be a tougher proposition on Bambill’s home court.

Cardy led all the way against Meringur last week but were outscored in the second half on their way to a 48-43 win.

Shooters Georgia Leutner and Tamara Hamence were again among the team’s best along with Shelby Couch and they will have to be at the top of their games again against premiership favourites Bambill.

The Saints had their clash last week against bottom of the table Gol Gol well in hand at halftime and cruised to eight-goal win, 45-37.

Shooter Tessa Houkamau was in fine fettle and Erin Hird and Georgia Bower also featured on the best list.

Down at the Lake, co-tenants Meringur and Werrimull meet in a game nearing must-win status for the fifth-placed Kangaroos.

They are only a game outside the top four but the team just above them on the ladder, Nangiloc, is surging.

Meringur were 10 goals off the pace against second-placed Cardross at halftime last week but whittled that margin back to five at the final horn.

Co-coach Bella Connell, shooter Emily Birch and defender Madelyn McPhee stood out for the Roos and should trouble the Magpies, who couldn’t handle a second-half charge from Nangy and went down by 10 goals after leading by five at the main break.

The loss saw the Pies drop from second to third but they are safe in the four – three games clear of the Roos.

Shooter Chelsea Newey, coach Jolene Neyland and defender Anna Thomson played well in a deflating loss.

Nangiloc’s recent run of fine form should continue when they host bottom side Gol Gol.

Four wins in their past five games have seen Ginine Sluiter’s reigning premiers push their way into the top four and they will be hard to dislodge despite being only four points ahead of Meringur.

Their comeback win over the Pies last week has made the teams above them sit up and take notice of a looming finals threat.

Midcourt star Tamara Loveridge in consistently among the side’s best along with Amber King and Sluiter.

Gol Gol only have a solitary win to their name after 10 games but that doesn’t accurately reflect recent efforts – including a strong second-half against Bambill in round 10 led by Emily Phillips, Maka Clarke and Jarae Johnson.

PREDICTIONS: Saints by 11 goals, Magpies by three, Demons by nine