Gallery | A battle between contenders Shepparton United and Mansfield highlights NCWL action

When the two sides met earlier this season, the Eagles won the bragging rights after claiming victory by four points in a bruising encounter.

On Sunday, United was keen to get revenge for its round three defeat and fought tooth and nail during the tight clash at Kialla Park Recreation Reserve.

The fixture is fast becoming a serious Northern Country Women’s League rivalry, with neither side willing to give an inch during the match.

United’s Kelsey Makar starred for the Demons up forward, with Makar booting a game-high four goals for the match.

In the Eagles’ camp, Victoria Mitchell kicked two goals for her side while winning best-on-ground honours for Mansfield.

The match went down to the wire, with the two sides being unable to be split as the scores finished as a draw 5.4 (34) to 5.4 (34).

United (second place) and the Eagles (third) sit on the same amount of points (only percentage giving the Demons the upper hand on the ladder) with only four rounds remaining in the season.

Hopefully, these two rivals can meet again for a third duel in the finals.

Rumbalara has secured its second straight win after breaking its duck the previous weekend.

Rumba was a force to be reckoned with during their round 10 match against bottom-of-the-ladder Barooga, winning 35-0 at home.

The Shepparton-based side was led by Che Atkinson, who Rumbalara coach Shannon Atkinson believes is the side’s barometer.

“Che Atkinson’s tackling really sets the tone for our game,” he said.

“She lays a lot of tackles and brings a lot of big girls down and she is only a small girl.

“I think the girls play a bit better when she is laying those tackles; it lifts the team.”

However, according to Shannon, Che wasn’t the only Atkinson who contributed to Rumba’s second win in a row.

“April Atkinson played a really good game at centre half-forward leading up and down the ground,” he said.

“I have been trying to get her to do that for the last few weeks and she has finally done it.

“Kiah Atkinson played another good game.

“She is playing with more confidence; at the start of the season, she was a bit scared, not knowing what to do, but she has started to get confidence in the last few weeks and has been playing some good footy.”

With only a few games left in the home and away season, Shannon said that while more victories would be nice, for now, he was just enjoying the fact that his players are loving football.

“I’m just happy that the girls are enjoying footy this year; it has been a good year,” he said.

In other round 10 matches, Nathalia cruised to victory over Tatura, winning the game by 57 points.

Purples forward Kiara Cooper was on fire in attack, finishing the match with six goals.

Finally, Nagambie forfeited its match with Echuca.

In round 10 of the Youth Girls competition, Shepparton United secured its ninth win of the season with a 12-point victory over Barooga on Sunday.

Shepparton Swans defeated Nathalia by 33 points at home, while Moama forfeited its match against cross-town rival Echuca United.