One weekend of statewide netball drama has merely served to set up another as Northern Hawks and Cavaliers assumed joint league leadership six days out from their looming derby.
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Having defeated Karana on Saturday, reigning premiers Hawks completed a perfect weekend with a thrilling come-from-behind win against perennial grand final opponents Arrows.
Meanwhile on the adjacent court at the Silverdome, Cavaliers bounced back from Saturday's loss to Arrows by inflicting another defeat on Karana to leave the Northern duo atop the league and separated only by percentage.
Down eight goals at quarter-time and 10 at the main break, Hawks put in a stunning third quarter with player of the match Tessa Coote and Jamie Symons keeping the shooters covered, allowing Zoe Claridge to do her thing at goal attack.
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In her 100th game for the team, Ashlea Mawer was on the end of everything, levelling the scores with 10 seconds of the third term remaining and providing a confidence-boosting one-goal lead in the last second.
The momentum shift continued in the final term as the hosts built a five-goal lead which they held to full-time to record a 73-68 win.
Co-coaches Ruth Tuohy and Kellie Woolnough preached the "one game at a time" mantra as their side fine tunes its premiership defence.
"We will celebrate this until tomorrow night's training and tackle the next task at hand which is Cavs next Saturday," Woolnough said.
"What we now know is that when everyone plays their role it puts us in a good position to take the win."
The duo highlighted the importance of wing attack Danni Pickett and centre Chelsea Mawer in turning the match around in the second half.
There was a similar third-quarter surge on the neighbouring court where Cavaliers coach Dan Roden was proud of how his side responded to Saturday's loss by beating Karana 61-40.
Cavs turned a five-goal half-time lead into 13 by the final change with Courtney Treloar filling in for absent goal shooter Mel Philpott while Dana Lester and player of the match Lucy Dennis were relentless in centre court.
"We were disappointed with yesterday's loss when we felt we were competitive for three quarters so we had to grind it out today," Roden said.
"It was great to bounce back and walk away with a win from the weekend."
Roden said Saturday's Northern derby could be pivotal to both teams' finals aspirations.
"I think next week will be the defining moment of the season. That will be the game to tell us where we're at. Winning that could put us a game clear."
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