It took a spirited second-half performance, but the Horsham Saints have booked their place in the preliminary final with a strong nine-goal win against Ararat.
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The game started at a furious clip, as both sides took to the court with the knowledge that only a win would keep their season alive.
The Rats dictated proceedings early, but were met but a stubborn Saints defence.
The two sides couldn't be separated in the first term, the score 11-11 at the end of the quarter.
Ararat drew away in the second quarter, as young goalie Delaney McLoughlan expressed her comfort at the highest level.
McLoughlan collected 10 goals in the quarter, to push the Rats to a 25-21 lead at half-time.
Ararat could do little but watch on in the third quarter as Maggie Caris took the game away for the Saints.
Caris was well marshalled by Ararat's young star Racquel Scott throughout the game, but the Saints' goalie was simply a cut above.
Caris collected 12 goals in a blistering third-quarter for the Saints.
In the lead by six goals heading into the final term, the Saints had the luxury of testing different combinations, with one eye towards a game against Minyip-Murtoa next weekend.
The Rats seized on the opportunity, but were unable to get the best of an impressive Larnie Hobbs in defence.
A few simple errors snuck in late in the game, but it wasn't to matter, as the siren sounded and brought with it a 45-36 win for the Horsham Saints.
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