ALBURY has kept its finals hopes alive with a 41-goal thumping of the Wodonga Raiders.
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The win further boosts the Tigers’ percentage but they need to win the last two games, and for Corowa-Rutherglen, to lose both to make the playoffs.
The Roos face a sizeable challenge against North Alb-ury and Lavington.
They lost by almost 30 goals to the Hoppers in the first round but shocked defending premiers and ladder leaders Panthers with a one-goal victory a week later.
Albury would expect to win its last game of the home and away season against Wangaratta but defender Liv Aughton said it needs to be at its best this weekend against Wodonga.
“We know this is our season on the line,” she said.
“We know we need Corowa to lose but we also know that we have to win both games to be any chance.
“Wodonga are a great side with two guns in the scoring ring.
“On one hand you have Jane Cook who has 20 centimetres on Brigetta Hart and me and who would expect to dominate those rebounds we would normally get against most teams so it will definitely be a matter of keeping her out of the ring.
“Then there is Bec Cameron, who is just so quick and versatile and can really shoot from anywhere.
“We’ll need to stop the supply from the mid-court and capitalise on any turnovers.”
Aughton said the Tigers’ win on Saturday was a tune-up for the clash with the Bulldogs.
“We wanted to set the tone for these games, we certainly didn’t want to have a mediocre game leading into next week,” she said.
“Both ends of the court were good.
“Kiara McLean and Sarah Moore are working really well together now.
“Kiara’s speed and versatility in the ring was a key for us and made the space for Sarah so that she only had one defender rather than two. ”
Elsewhere it was deja vu for North Albury, who again lost by just a goal against Yarrawonga, in a low-scoring affair 41-40.
The Hoppers gave last year’s beaten grand finalist a seven-goal start after the first quarter but were level at the last break.
Defenders from both sides were, not surprisingly, the best on court for North’s Jordan Farrugia and Jacqui Newton and the Pigeons’ Hannah Symes and Kylie Leslie.