THE Sale Netball Association open team finished third in the Regional State League Premiers Challenge in Melbourne on Sunday.
The Eastern Region champion had to play three matches within two hours against the winners of the other three State League competitions for the right to play in the final from noon at Hisense Arena as a curtain raiser to the Trans Tasman Championship match between the Melbourne Vixens and Queensland Firebirds.
Sale began with a 19-10 loss to eventual champion Camperdown before getting its campaign back on track with a 16-15 win over Shepparton United.
With another win good enough to advance to the final, Sale lost to Kangaroo Flat, 12-11, in another thriller.
Camperdown defeated Kangaroo Flat 51-47 in the final.
