After there were two games in the league’s opening round, the rest of the competition took to the field at the weekend to play their first matches of the season.
Katandra started its 2024 campaign in commanding form after it defeated Katamatite 96-17 in a dominant display.
The Kats piled on 31 shots to the Tigers’ seven at home, leaving Katandra coach Jason Whittaker impressed by his side’s well-rounded performance.
“It’s a politically correct thing to say, but it was a whole team effort yesterday,” Whittaker said.
“We had 12 individual goal scorers.
“A couple of our best players were in our backline.
“Corey Percy and Jye Limosani were good defensively and they organised themselves well and created a fair bit of run and drive, which was good.
“Both our key forwards (Tom Jeffery and Henry Wedding) kicked 1.6 each, so when your two key forwards are having seven odd shots at goal each, the delivery forward must have been good.”
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Whittaker said the start of the match was tight and contested as both teams were full of energy after a long pre-season.
“It was a bit of an arm wrestle early, as you would expect first game round one everyone is fully fit and firing,” he said.
“It took a little while to gain a bit of control, but then as the last part of the first quarter and the start of the second, we felt we had control.
“But it doesn’t take long for that feeling to go if the opposition bangs two or three in a row, especially if you have had some dominance and maybe not put it on the scoreboard as much as you would have hoped, and if they turn around and kick a few quick ones, the pressure is back on you.
“It was good to see the work we put in during pre-season play out in front of us yesterday.”
In other round two matches, Waaia started its premiership defence with a win after defeating Katunga by 50 points (97-47) away from home.
Waaia’s Jesse Trower and Connor Brown kicked four goals in the Bombers’ win.
Last year’s grand finalist Strathmerton defeated Jerilderie by 53 points.
The Bulldogs put in a consistent performance, kicking four goals in each quarter except for the last, where they kicked three.
Blighty secured the biggest victory of the round when it beat Yarroweyah 18.15 (123) to 6.6 (42) in a one-sided match.
The only side to play two games this season was Tocumwal and the Bloods’ second match was similar to their first as they lost to Deniliquin 15.18 (108) to 5.5 (35), while Tungamah secured the tightest win of the round with a 31-point win over Rennie.
In the Picola District Netball League, Katunga avenged its footballing counterparts with a seven-goal win over Waaia (42-35).
Tungamah defeated Rennie 38-32; Bears goal shooter Lauren Miles dominated with 30 goals for the game, while Paula Mifka was busy for Rennie up forward, finishing with 22 goals.
Deniliquin won its match against Tocumwal 42-23, with Rovers goal shooter Abbey Wills leading the charge with 21 goals.
Kelley Laidlaw was in a goal-scoring mood in Strathmerton’s 58-21 victory over Jerilderie, as she scored an impressive 31.
Katamatite defeated Katandra in a close encounter, with the Tigers beating the Kats 41-38.
Katamatite goal shooter Ria Still led the way for the Tigers, scoring 35 of their 41 goals.
The winner of Yarroweyah and Blighty was unavailable, with the scores not uploaded at the time of print.
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