ROUND 3 of the Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (MMNA) kicks off with some blockbuster clashes in both the Men’s and Mixed Premier Division.

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION

Taking a look at the Men’s first, there are three undefeated sides, with the most impressive of the three thus far having a bye.

Whilst top-of-the-table St Therese will rest up in Round 3 after 20 and 35-goal wins over Sirens and City Heat respectively to start the season, their nearest rivals will battle to keep up their winning streaks. The only other side with two wins on the board thus far is the Seahawks, with a 14-goal win over Ariels last week after securing the victory against DDNA by 10 goals in Round 1.

The Seahawks take on the Sirens on Court 8 from 6:40pm tonight, with their opponents coming off a nail-biting 43-goal apiece draw last week with DDNA. The week before they went down to St Therese in a big loss, but will be hoping to cause an upset against the so-far unblemished Seahawks.

Meanwhile, the Netblacks return to the action tonight following a bye in Round 2 and and seven-goal win over City Heat in the opening match of the season. They remain a title contender, and take on the other side to have a bye already in the Ariels. Unlike the Netblacks, the Ariels suffered a loss in their first game for the season, going down to Seahawks by 14 goals in Round 2. With both sides relatively fresh, it should be a fascinating contest.

Perhaps the most important contests is the battle between DDNA and City Heat on Court 6, with the last placed City Heat looking to turn its form around from the opening two rounds. Suffering back-to-back losses which combine for a goal difference of minus-42, the underdogs will be looking to get points on the board. Meanwhile DDNA can jump into the top three if Netblacks lose.

LADDER AFTER ROUND 2

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION: ROUND 3 FIXTURES

DDNA vs. City Heat (Court 6, 6:40pm)
Ariels vs. Netblacks (Court 7, 6:40pm)
Seahawks vs. Sirens (Court 8, 6:40pm)

Bye: St Therese

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MIXED PREMIER DIVISION

Looking at the Mixed Premier Division, there are four genuine contenders who have risen in the opening couple of rounds, with two teams struggling across the opening fortnight. The top of the table Geelong Cougars will have a chance to extend their advantage for the time being, with fellow undefeated side Melbourne Quakes having a bye in Round 3, after Parkville Panthers had the Round 2 bye.

In Round 3, the Cougars take on the Ariels on Court 7 at 8pm, with the Geelong side coming off a 12-goal win over Valley Wolves last week, and an 18-goal win over Eastside Sonics in Round 1. The Ariels suffered a heart-breaking one-goal loss to Melbourne Quakes in the opening round of the season, before having a storming 37-goal thumping of the Sonics last week. That result will give the Ariels confidence of an upset in the clash.

After putting together the most one-sided result of Round 1, the Parkville Panthers head into Round 3 fresh off a bye last week. They take on the winless Valley Wolves who had the Round 1 bye, then took it up to the Geelong Cougars in Round 2, falling 12 goals short. A win would help keep them in touch with the top four, whilst a loss would potentially give those sides above them some breathing space.

The final game of the round is a battle between the two bottom sides, albeit at this early stage of the season. Both the NNE Vipers and Eastside Sonics have conceded 124 goals across two games (62 goals per match), with the Vipers four goals ahead on goal difference. Either side could grab some vital points here, and the winner will likely leapfrog Valley Wolves unless the Wolves can upset the Panthers.

LADDER AFTER ROUND 2

MIXED PREMIER DIVISION: ROUND 3 FIXTURES

Valley Wolves vs. Parkville Panthers (Court 6, 8:00pm)
Geelong Cougars vs. Ariels (Court 7, 8:00pm)
Eastside Sonics vs. NNE Vipers (Court 11, 9:20pm)

Bye: Melbourne Quakes

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