Weekly Advertiser | The stage is set for a blockbuster Horsham District A Grade netball preliminary final between Noradjuha-Quantong and Rupanyup this weekend, with a chance to play Laharum in the grand final on the line.

The Panthers advanced to the preliminary final in a thrilling one-goal win over Kalkee in trying conditions on Sunday, while Laharum punched its ticket to the grand final a day earlier thanks to a 44-27 win over Noradjuha-Quantong.

Rupanyup’s semi-final win was one of the matches of the season, with the Panthers trailing by four goals at quarter time before storming back to lead by the same margin at the half.

A back-and-forth third term set up a frenetic final quarter, with only seven total goals scored in the final seven minutes as both teams created turnovers and deflections.

In the dying minutes Kalkee goal attack Jarrah Martin tied the scores at 31 apiece, and wing defence Clair McDonald seemed to have created a turnover from the ensuing Ruanyup centre pass, but lost her balance and was forced to roll the ball blindly backwards, where Panther captain Ally Hiscock waited.

Hiscock worked the ball to Bianca Drum, who goaled to give Rupanyup the lead with less than a minute on the clock.

Kalkee drove the ball forward from its centre pass and gave Martin an opportunity to tie the scores again with only 15 seconds remaining, but her shot caromed off the ring and defender Lucy Bussenschutt secured a huge rebound for Rupanyup.

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