DESPITE a late season threat to their spot in the Sunraysia Football Netball League A Grade finals, Red Cliffs fended off Merbein 54 to 46 to keep their campaign alive and well at Quandong Park on Saturday in a do or die stakes game.
Competition results also went the Tigers way elsewhere on the last day of regular season action as South Mildura had no answer to the impenetrable Wentworth force during a 53-33 loss in which they needed a victory.
With Merbein already being out of contention for the sought after top five, they had a considerable opportunity to play the role of visiting villains in Tigerland.
The Red Cliffs party couldn’t be stopped, however, as the hosts held on to an eight point advantage, securing a finals position in the process.
After losing in a two point heartbreak against South Mildura last weekend, the Tigers faithful’s season flashed before their very eyes and meant anything but a win against the Magpies would prevent them from playing post-season netball.
Red Cliffs could also luckily rely on the seemingly unbeatable Roos outfit to help them by stopping South Mildura, so it was all down to them on Saturday.
The victory brought the Tigers back level with South Mildura on points after conceding to them last weekend, but they edge ahead by nine percent on goal average despite having one less win this season than the Bulldogs.
The win against the Magpies also marked the end of a four game Red Cliffs losing streak which included suffering losses against South Mildura, Wentworth, Irymple and Robinvale Euston.
Merbein made the Red Cliffs trip off the back of a confident 59-51 Imperials victory and appeared eager to cause a stirring upset potentially extending the Tigers’ winless run.
A defiant home side didn’t faulter, however, as Red Cliffs hung on to book their ticket to the SFNL finals, finishing the season with a record of six wins, eight losses and two draws.
The last time the Magpies and Tigers took to the court in battle was a similar story back in May at Compound Accounting Park, where Red Cliffs prevailed by seven goals, 48-41.
Saturday’s result submitted Merbein to a seventh place finish, recording five wins and 11 losses for the year.
After a dramatic closing to their regular season campaign, Red Cliffs are now set to play Irymple this weekend in a fourth versus fifth elimination final game.
Making the top five by the skin of their teeth, the Tigers will be looking for sharpshooter Zara Copley to continue her pivotal role in the squad’s setup against the Swallows if they are to make a deep finals run as she is ranked third in the league for most goals scored with 452 for the season.
