Nilma Darnum and Ellinbank put on an exciting A grade goal fest in round three of Ellinbank and District netball on Saturday.
Overcoming an uncharacteristic slow start after the Easter break, the Bombers ultimately proved their mettle and pulled away in the final five minutes, winning by two goals.
This win has the Bombers firmly in the premiership conversation, with their tall goalers and experience tough to beat. This is despite last year's league best and fairest Stacey Lawry sitting on the sidelines due to injury.
Although not a win, this game proves the Eagles are moving in the right direction, winning two of the four quarters and going goal-for-goal across much of the game. Their next game is just as difficult, last year's runners-up Neerim South.
The Cats are sitting in a strong position after dispatching of last year's third placed side Trafalgar by 30 goals. They remain undefeated.
However, it is Longwarry who are sitting on top of the A grade ladder courtesy of a 26-goal win over Poowong.
After a 29-goal win over Nyora, Lang Lang is quietly amassing wins and sits in fourth.
Bunyip secured its first A grade win after returning to the league with a 11-goal win over Buln Buln and Yarragon got on the winners' list with a 14-goal win at Catani.
However, it was the Nilma and Ellinbank game which kept spectators on the edge of their seats to be game of the round.
After a few scrappy plays, Ellinbank held an early 6-1 lead. Nilma was always going to come back and they worked their way back into the contest to trail 12-15 at quarter time.
The Eagles kept their nose in front across much of the second quarter before the Bombers went on a five-goal run late in the quarter to lead 35-33 at half-time.
Both teams started to make small defensive inroads in the third, with Ellinbank taking back the lead at the last change, 49-47.
The goalers, who collectively shot 128 goals across the game, stood up in the last as the pressure increased. Despite Ellinbank's persistence, Nilma held strong for an impressive win 65-63.
Next week's games: Buln Buln v Trafalgar, Ellinbank v Neerim South, Bunyip v Nilma Darnum, Longwarry v Yarragon, Lang Lang v Catani and Nyora v Poowong.