Towns in the last chance saloon as they prepare for Royal challenge in GNWFL

It is top versus bottom in this weekend’s GNWFL action with Towns the only chance of upsetting the apple cart.

In the last round before the bye, the women’s ladder already looks set with Brigades, Northampton and even Railways looking to have booked their finals places.

The two top teams from last year - Chapman Valley and Towns - are not on that list and will be the biggest source of intrigue on Saturday.

Royals are in a far superior position already sitting inside the top four, points ahead of Towns with a game in hand to boot.

But their two wins have come against the lowly Rovers and Mullewa and this will be their first real test since they went scoreless against the Rams in round one.

Much may rely on Taylah Broadhurst, who is having another stellar year, to win the midfield battle and on their mid-sized forwards to share the goalkicking load.

Towns have lost their last three games by less than two goals and are firmly in the “last-chance saloon” in what is an eight-point game.

Win and they’re back in it, lose and they’re now eight points outside the top four despite having played an extra game and it’s difficult to see a pathway into finals from there.

Towns have never been a high-scoring team relying on their excellent defence but they were already playing with razor-thin margins.

Despite conceding a highest score of just 28 points in the last three rounds, a minor dip in their forward output has been enough to wipe those margins out and put them in a precarious position.

It would be a shock for Towns to tumble down the order so significantly after last season but if they can’t get it done this weekend the writing may already be on the wall before the bye.

Fresh off a bye Brigades may be on for a record pasting of Mullewa much like they did against Rovers at the start of the season.

Northampton will take on Rovers and will need to cash in against the Demons as they have the fifth worst percentage despite sitting second if they want to secure home finals.