After playing no netball for a fortnight due to competition and club byes in consecutive weeks, the Saints played a trial against Turvey Park on Thursday to prepare for the clash.

It was tight throughout before the hosts took control late in a 53-44 win, which gives third-placed North Wagga (7-2) a two-win buffer over fourth-placed Coleambally in the race for the finals double chance.

The Kangaroos beat the Saints by two goals in the opening round, but North Wagga coach Flynn Hogg said turning the tables had given them belief.

"It just proves we are just as good as them on our day," Hogg said.

"With some new girls it was just working out how to play with each other on the court, because we do have so much versatility.

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"Getting used to rotations and me doing the positions each game, I know who to start and when to put players on.

"I feel like I've got more comfortable (in my first year of coaching) and the girls all know what they're doing. I say if they've got anything they want to try then by all means bring it up, I'm an open book with that type of stuff.

"It was the last five minutes we stuck it to them, we stayed consistent and kept our cool, and our defensive pressure down the court was amazing."

In other matches CSU drew level with Temora atop the table with an 8-1 record with a 48-40 win over Coleambally, Northern Jets won the battle for fifth spot over Marrar 47-31 and East Wagga Kooringal maintained striking distance with the top five after a 60-36 victory against The Rock-Yerong Creek.

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