When the final whistle sounded in Saturday's Rawson Homes Premiership A Grade top-of-the-table clash, Fusion Heat coach Tash Robinson was surprised to hear the score.
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It wasn't a shock to see her side had won - victories are something that have gone hand-in-hand with Fusion Heat for a number of years now - but the margin was unexpected.
Robinson has been a nervy spectator at the Nita McGrath Courts so to hear the final score was 58-32 in favour of Heat over the Narromine Hawks was not what she was expecting.
"To be honest, it felt a lot closer than what it was," she said after the 26-point win.
"The score did not reflect the game at all ... each time I heard the score I was shocked to hear it.
"I thought it was going to be a lot closer. I thought we only had them by a couple so to see it that big was a bit shocking."
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Narromine went into the match - which headlined Dubbo Netball Association's annual Pink Day charity round - unbeaten, having defeated Fusion Heat by three points in a fantastic match earlier in the season.
But consistency across the four quarters proved the difference on Saturday, as Heat took back control in the race for the minor premiership.
Heat and the Hawks are now locked at the top of the ladder on 28 points each with four rounds remaining but the former's better quotient has them holding the number one spot.
Michelle Regan was again a standout at goal-shooter for Heat on Saturday and was a tower of strength around the post, while Isabella Attwater and Hannah Allen shone in the midcourt.
Attwater, in particular, was key as she spent the entire match at centre against Narromine star, and Super W rugby player, Bec Smyth and Robinson said the teenager's "feeds and ball work was incredible".
There was a bit of a hype around the game.
- Tash Robinson
Robinson also admitted the result was that little more pleasing given the Hawks had got one over them earlier in the season.
"There was a bit of a hype around the game but it was a really good game. The girls came out strong and were consistent over four quarters," she said.
"Being such a small margin (last time), I think they knew they were in touch. So for them to go out and put in a good four quarters was really good."
While Heat is now favoured to finish top, Robinson added it wasn't the "be all and end all" for her team as the focus remains on finals and continuing the side's tremendous premiership streak, which stands at four successive victories.
"We try and put ourselves in as good a place as possible going to the end of the season," she said.
"We do have it in mind but it's not something we're 100 per cent focused on."
Elsewhere on Saturday, the Nyngan Cougars took a big step towards finishing in third place by defeating St Groovers in a tight contest.
Nyngan and St Groovers went into the match in third and fourth place respectively but the Cougars opened up a bit of a gap on their rivals by scoring a 41-39 win.
In the other match, the Macquarie Hornets kept their finals hopes alive by defeating Fusion Wild 49-23.
The Dubbo Rhinos Rebels didn't take to the court due to the bye but the moved up into fourth spot after the other results.
A number of Heat players, like so many others across the competition on Saturday, also sported pink socks and had pink ribbons in the hair, for the annual charity which supports breast cancer awareness and research.
"It's really important that we're supporting charities and showing our support as a club, as well," Robinson said.
"To see everyone turn up in their pink gear and some with pink face paint, it was really good to see."
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