THINGS are starting to go right for the Muswellbrook Cats at the best time of the season.
They've broken into fourth place on the 2019 HAVAL Black Diamond Plate ladder after a convincing win on home soil against fellow finals challengers Killarney Vale.
Having won seven of their 11 matches, with several of those forfeits in their favour, the 15.10 (100) to 7.10 (52) victory sees them 2.1 ahead of their opponents on win percentage at 63.64.
It's been a stuttering year for the side, which had only been on the field for six of the first 13 rounds, but it's beginning to come together and their key players are getting some much-needed fluency and confidence.
Adam Higham (6) and Jayden Galvin (4) were clinical up front combining for 10 goals, while Jordan Goldman, Ken Garland and Cameron Benkovic were also among the best.
Out of Muswellbrook's four remaining matches, The Entrance Bateau Bay is the only side above them they will have to take on which leaves them well-poised for a crack at finals football.
Having hosted their first play-off match last season, the Cats had high hopes heading into the year despite a reasonable turnover of players.
They will now enter the last month of the home and away campaign with a lot of optimism.
Going around the grounds, cellar dwellers Gosford enjoyed a 32-point win over Wyong Lakes, Newcastle City held off a plucky Cardiff 66-47, The Entrance Bateau Bay thumped Wallsend-West Newcastle 157-14, Singleton suffered a humiliating 97-point home defeat to Lake Macquarie and Warners Bay, Maitland and ladder leaders Terrigal Avoca had byes.
In the women's competition, the Cats went down by 151 to Wyong Lakes, 25.7 (157) to 1.0 (6), with Gyarn Rawson picking up the only goal.
She was joined by Emma Knowles, Ashlea Pritchard, Bailee Mavin, Demi Farrell and Kimberley Page as the side's stand-outs on the day.
