HAMILTON Kangaroos battled hard against the second-placed Bombers at Cobden Recreation Reserve in their Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) Open netball match, but in the end were well beaten by the hosts, 51-32.

At the start of the day the Kangaroos held sixth place on the ladder and needed results to go their way to have any chance of reaching the finals, but the loss, combined with round 16 victories to both Warrnambool and Portland, have seen the Kangaroos slip out of finals contention and down to seventh on the ladder.

Cobden came out in the first quarter looking to open a gap on the scoreboard and moved to a seven-goal lead by the first change of ends.

From there the Roos were up against a team with momentum and the margin increased with each passing term, but the second quarter was the visitors’ best, holding Cobden to a nine goals to eight term. Emily Finch was unstoppable with 35 goals for Cobden, but Kellie Sommerville, Emma Somerville and Ella Sevior battled hard all game for the Kangaroos.