Rutherford may have landed on the wrong side of the 4-point defeat, but the return of Gordon Murray was a welcome boost for the team hunting for finals dodgeball in their first season in the league.

Belmont’s Nic Price was the catalyst as the third placed side also looked to solidify their position in the finals, and the victory levels them with their best finish since their entry to the competition.

Read: Three teams left undefeated in Women’s BDAFL after fourth round

Later, Hamilton nearly stumbled in their title defence as Raymond Terrace took them to a deciding 11^th round, with the scores tied at 5-all at the last.

Hamilton refused to drop points however, having come back from a 3 to 5 deficit, and closed out the final contest to claim four points and move into the top spot by just two points, awaiting the result of the Cooks Hill against Waratah match.

The win also marked Hamilton’s 100^th club match in the Newcastle Dodgeball League, a record only bettered by Raymond Terrace and Waratah, although the defending champions’ 60% win ratio is the best of the founding clubs.

The ‘Tahs came up against Cooks Hill as the last match-up of the round, and the table-topping fixture didn’t disappoint.

Recent weeks have seen the Cookers claim their wins off the back of individual brilliance, but after the defeat to Hamilton last week the squad had clearly focused on dynamics for their return.

Read: Heat stay red-hot on top after early season break

They bounced back with the 6-5 result in their favour, dropping Waratah into second place on the table despite Jakub Lunarzewski’s stand-out efforts for the defeated side.

Controversy also came late in the match, after two back-to-back foul plays called against Waratah left them struggling in the eleventh, and deciding, round.

The win moves Cooks Hill just six points away from the top of the table, and four points off the ‘Tahs in second place, with the back-end of the tenth season of the league promising to be a close affair right to the last whistle.

Table: Hamilton (26), Waratah (24), Cooks Hill (22), Belmont (20), Rutherford (12), Raymond Terrace (4).