The race for the last two finals spots in the Bendigo Netball League looks like going down to the final round.
Kangaroo Flat, Sandhurst and Golden Square have all but sealed the top three spots and will likely fight out those positions.
But the last two positions in the final five aren’t so clear, with four sides in contention and only two points separating fourth and seventh with four rounds left.
Gisborne is currently in fourth spot, only percentage ahead of Maryborough and Strathfieldsaye.
The Bulldogs jumped above Maryborough on Saturday after beating Castlemaine 75-13.
Maryborough lost the game break it had on the chasing teams, losing to top side Kangaroo Flat 46-42 on Saturday.
Strathfieldsaye ensured it stayed with the pack by beating South Bendigo 53-41.
Sitting two points further back is Kyneton, which showed it could more than match it with the top sides by drawing with Kangaroo Flat the week before.
But the Tigers had to fight hard against Eaglehawk at the weekend. They trailed by two goals at three-quarter time before shutting down Eaglehawk’s attack to win 50-46.
Hayley Page scored 29 goals and Michelle Fletcher 21 for the Tigers.
The closeness of the ladder means this week’s match between Kyneton and Gisborne takes on extra significance.
The fight for a finals spot in senior football is just as close, with Kyneton slipping outside the top five after a 20.13 (133)-8.9 (57) loss to Eaglehawk.
The Tigers struggled to find the scoreboard in the second half, with the Hawks kicking 13 goals to four.
Nathan Thompson kicked four goals in the loss.
The Tigers and Hawks switch positions on the ladder, with the Hawks having a much better percentage.
Gisborne suffered another loss, going down 12.10 (82)-4.16 (40) to Castlemaine.
The Bulldogs could muster only one goal in the first half as both teams struggled with accuracy in front of goal.
The second half was a lot closer, with the Bulldogs winning the half by a point.
Bulldogs skipper Jarrad Lynch was named best in the loss.
The Bulldogs remain ninth on the ladder.
