After trailing 11-9 at the first break, Columba College went on a nine-goal unanswered run in a dominant second quarter — which the school side won 12-5 — against the Southern Magpies.
And while Southern came back to win the final quarter 16-12, Columba had done enough setting themselves up early to snatch a 44-42 win in their Dunedin Netball premier A clash at the Edgar Centre on Saturday.
Southern made a strong start when centre Ellie Walker found nice depth in the pocket for a straight line ball into shooter Freya Wilson, who was solid for her team, slotting 35 from 43.
Defenders Ellie Withers and Rebecca Mace sat back to try to contain Earl.
They shut down the first-second feed to Earl, but Columba were never afraid to look back and work it around patiently waiting for the opening to come.
Southern held a 11-9 lead at the break — then came the Columba onslaught.
Brown collected the scraps from a poor Southern pass, wing defender Lyla Bowering snaffled a ball and Earl made sure under the post.
Brown used her feet to come around and pinch another ball, and centre Ruby Jones put some punch behind her pass on a deep feed to Earl.
Suddenly Columba held a 18-11 lead midway through the second.
Hannah Bissett was injected at wing attack for Southern, who eventually found their avenue to Wilson.
But Columba continued on their rampage and led 21-16 at halftime.
Wing defence Aria Brown threw a long ball into Earl from the centre third and Jones snatched a run-through intercept and let it go long to her shooter as well.
They held a 23-18 lead, but it was a much tighter third quarter between the two teams.
Southern ramped up their through-court pressure and swung the ball better in their attack end.
They closed to within two at one stage in the third quarter, but Columba held a 32-26 lead at the break.
Withers poached the ball in a great passage of play as Southern darted down the court.
They fought for everything and kept Columba questioning where the space was and pushed hard right to the end of the game.
But Columba managed to hold out for the win.
Uni Albion A and College A remain unbeaten — but this is likely about to change, as the two will come up against each other in a top of the table clash this weekend.
Uni Albion A accounted for club-mates Uni Albion B 69-20, while College beat South Pac Titans Taiko 70-37 and Physed beat Titans Titi 61-29
