In all, 10 of 11 fixtures will feature Echuca United, Moama or Tongala teams, and four will include two of the teams, guaranteeing a local winner.
Alongside Tongala’s A-graders, plenty of lower grade sides secured their spots this week in the preliminary finals at Finley.
Football
Moama’s reserves and under-17s were already through, but have now learnt their opposition.
In reserves, minor premier Cobram was upset by Congupna, and the Road will move on to take on the Mowers.
In the under-17s, Cobram again slipped up despite finishing top, Deniliquin Rams making a run from fourth to reach the final against Moama.
It was a trio of Tigers sides that tumbled, after the first game of the day in under-14s saw Echuca United continue its underdog story from fifth position, removing Cobram from contention 6.13 (49) to 4.4 (28).
Neither side could make much headway in the first term, but the Eagles were unlucky to lead by only a point after a 2.8 first half.
Things turned after the break as Cobram floundered, and United capitalised to win comfortably, now heading to battle Finley.
Netball
In B-grade, Moama missed out on taking another shot at Tongala, beaten by Mulwala 42-50.
The Mowers never recovered from a slow start, and despite winning the last quarter narrowly, had left themselves too much to do.
In C-grade, Moama had no such trouble, pulling out a tight win over Nathalia.
The black and whites were down a goal at halftime but fought back to win 44-41, and will now take on Tongala.
After dropping its first game of the season against Moama, Tongala rebounded effectively in C-reserve and will have a second shot at the Mowers after rolling through Rumbalara 51-35.
The result wasn’t ever in doubt, as the Blues surged to a five-goal lead at quarter time and a double-digit advantage at the half.
There will be yet another Blues-Magpies clash, after Tongala’s 17-and-under team won its way through Echuca United 52-50 to face Moama in the final.
The margin was just one at every break, and the Eagles led at half and three-quarter time, but the Blues had enough left in the last to advance.
Yet another local showdown looms in 15-and-under, with Echuca United shocking minor premier Cobram 29-26 to move on.
The Eagles fought back from deficits in each half to keep alive their run from fifth position.
United discovered its fate in the 13-and-under, as Cobram got by Moama 32-22 to take another shot at the Eagles in the final.
Moama couldn’t keep up with the Tigers, falling gradually further behind quarter by quarter.
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