Crucial win for Royals Saints as the race for fourth spot in Albany Netball Association heats up

Royals Saints 1 are firming for a top four finish in the Albany Netball Association A1 competition after a hard-fought 14-goal victory over Railways 1 on Saturday afternoon. The result helped Royals Saints move three points clear of the fifth-placed Kangas 1 with three rounds remaining in the regular season. Railways won the first and last quarter but were not able to match it with Royals Saints through the middle stages of the game as they stormed to a sixth win of the season in round 11. The sixth-placed Railways held a narrow one-goal advantage after an even first term before Royals Saints were sparked into action in the second term. Royals Saints outscored their opponents by seven in the second quarter, knocking down 19 goals to open up a six-goal lead by half-time. The margin was stretched to 15 at the final change after Royals Saints continued to score freely, doubling Railways score in the third stanza. The two sides went goal for goal in the final term and Railways won the period by one goal but it was not enough to deny Royals Saints the win as they prevailed 64-50 in a high-scoring affair. Nardia Humphries was impressive up front for Royals Saints along with Carly Szczecinski while Taylah Orzel and Maddie Dallimore provided plenty of drive through the mid-court. Amy De Goumois and Jess Rintoul worked well in goals for Railways while Shelby Upson and Rowie Stewart also were strong contributors but a sixth loss of 2021 dented their finals hopes. Narrikup 2 remain on top of the ladder after a strong four quarter performance secured a 60-44 victory over Griffins 1. Magpies 1 came from behind against Bullets 1 to prevail 46-37, after Bullets led by a single goal at the main break. In the other A1 fixture Narrikup 1 ran out comfortable 60-43 winners over Kangas 1.