By SARAH MATTHEWS

Third-placed Jeparit-Rainbow and fourth-placed Noradjuha-Quantong will face off in match of the round as Horsham District netball action returns at the weekend.

Both A Grade sides have dropped only one match for the season and will look to continue strong starts to the year at Quantong.

The Storm has spent previous seasons towards the lower end of the ladder and will be keen to secure a finals spot in 2021.

Georgia Batson and Breanna Eastick have been combining well in goals and will be out to post another high score on Saturday.

The Bombers welcomed back defender Brooke Pay before the bye and she will do her best to curb the shooters’ influence alongside Yolly Molineaux and Louisa Vague.

Up the other end, the Storm’s defenders need to account for tall goalie Shannon Couch and would benefit from the return of Penny Fisher, if available.

Both midcourts are in good form and the sides have several options depending on what is or isn’t working on the day. 

Much will depend on who is available, but it should be a good spectacle.

The match-up between Harrow-Balmoral and Natimuk United should also be a good one, depending on who lines up for the Rams.

If the Rams have Casey Vanstan and Jo Taylor in defence, Southern Roos shooters Kirby Knight and Lucy King will be in for a tough day. 

Natimuk United is still working on shooting combinations and whoever gets the nod will need to be on song against one of the league’s best defenders, Ebonie Salter. 

The Rams, sitting seventh, need to put a few more wins on the board to be competitive, while the Roos, in second, have yet to drop a game.

Kaniva-Leeor United, fifth, is likely to stay in touch with the top teams against a developing Edenhope-Apsley, 10th.

The Cougars are travelling well and their height might prove problematic for the Saints. 

Seeking first win

Pimpinio, 11th, will see this week’s encounter with Rupanyup, eighth, as an opportunity to get its first win on the board. 

The Panthers have four points on the board thanks to a bye against Taylors Lake, but have been quite competitive in some of their previous matches. 

The Tigers will be competitive but they are rebuilding this year and might struggle to get the better of the Panthers.

Ladder leader Laharum is likely to continue on its winning way against sixth-placed Swifts, but the Baggies will make them work for it in what should be a fast-paced encounter.

Swifts goalies Michaela Armer and Jade Ralph are an accurate combination and it will be interesting to see how they withstand Laharum’s defensive pressure. 

Caitlin Dumesny and Maddie Iredell shot 66 goals between them in round four and the Baggies will need to find the right combination to quell their influence on the game.

Kalkee has a bye.

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