NETBALL: The RSL Swifts showed they are a force to be reckoned with heading into this weekend’s semi-finals after downing third-placed St Ellis on Saturday 56-32 in the local B grade competition.

The win means the fourth-placed Swifts will face St Ellis again this Saturday in the semi-finals and coach Debbie Bartlett is confident her girls can come out and perform well again.

Despite having a two-point lead on the ladder, St Ellis wasn’t able to keep up with the fast pace of RSL Swifts from the sound of the first whistle.

The Swifts dominated the match heading into half-time with an impressive lead 33-14.

The good form kept coming from the Swifts and St Ellis were unable to recover in the second.

Swifts’ shooter Tara Callinan was outstanding for her side barely missing a shot, while team-mate Emily Caton performed well out of position.

“Emily usually plays centre or wing attack but she filled in for our defence and played really well,” Bartlett said.

Despite winning easily at the weekend, Bartlett isn’t expecting an easy game this Saturday, saying her girls will need to be on their game if they want to win and progress through to the finals.

Bartlett said her side had trained hard all year and done well in a tough competition.

“All our girls are 14 or 15 years of age and they are playing in a hard division,” Bartlett said.

“They really played well as a team on the weekend and played at their peak.”

Bartlett said finals netball always brought surprises and the team would need to be focused and prepared for a big game on Saturday.

“Most of the girls play rep netball together so that’s an advantage for them, but they are young and they are playing some very experienced sides, so it won’t be easy,” she said.

In other matches in B grade St Groovers beat St Bandits 40-26, St Troopers won on a forfeit and so did Apollo Devils.

In the major semi-final St Troopers will meet Apollo Devils.

Meanwhile in A grade Garden Hotel will go in as favourites against St Squirts this weekend in the major semi-final.

Garden Hotel secured the minor premiership by defeating RSL Dolphins 57 to 34 on Saturday.

Apollo Gladiators and Garden Upside will meet in the other semi-final clash.

The action starts at the Nita McGrath Courts this Saturday at 9.45am with the last games getting under way at 2.30pm.