Sport
Murray Netball League wrap | Tough weekend for Tigers and Hawks
Deniliquin sought to firmly insert itself back into finals conversations and its outing against Barooga would have done it nothing but favours in terms of confidence.
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Despite the slippery, wet conditions, the Rams secured a decisive victory.
Eliza Eastman was the standout in defence, displaying incredibly quick feet to manoeuvre around the shooters. Her strong rebounds, deflections and intercepts were crucial in shutting down the opposition's offense.
Emma Parks worked tirelessly throughout the game, her persistent hands-over pressure led to numerous turnovers, and her strong drives into attack helped transition the ball forward efficiently.
Ava Richards also played a key role in defence. Her high leaps in the midcourt created pressure and led to additional turnovers, disrupting Barooga's flow and contributing to the team's overall success.
They never truly looked like dropping points to the Hawks with a double-digit lead accumulated by quarter-time, but the Rams truly put on the afterburners in the third term with an unbelievable 18-1 run that saw the margin blow out beyond 40 goals.
The rest was academic as the visitors returned to the top four at Tongala’s expense on percentage, with the 67-19 thrashing in tow.
Nathalia ensured things would remain near-inseparable in the lower reaches of finals places though, after gritting out a workwoman-like win over Cobram.
Not used to winning by blowout margins, resulting in a percentage below 110, the Purples went about their usual industrious business in a remarkably similar passage of quarter-by-quarter scores that went 12-8, 11-9, 12-8, 11-8 to wrap it up 46-33.
After 12 weeks of Murray Netball League action, the pivotal question facing 11 clubs has not changed though.
Solving the Rumbalara problem has not come easy to anyone, but especially not Congupna in a clash between Shepparton representation and its immediate surrounds.
Coming in at 3-8, it never looked a straightforward task for The Road on paper against the rampaging Rumba side and indeed, the hosts at Mercury Drive burst out of the blocks emphatically.
They never let up from there en route to the expected victory, asserting undisputed control over the league once more in moving to 12-0 courtesy of a 75-20 thrashing.
Coach Jess Bamblett was pleased with how things have rolled along, but has eyes on bigger prizes.
“We’re travelling okay, but in the big scheme of things, our main focus is what happens in finals,” Bamblett said.
“That’s what’s important to us, playing even better than what we are now in the season.
“I think we were just switched on from the start (against Congupna) and we were defensively strong throughout.”
Needless to say, a crunch meeting looms next round as the undefeated high-flying Rumbalara outfit takes on Finley.
“In the Murray league, anything’s possible and we just want to be better than last week and the week before,” Bamblett said.
“Every week is about learning and mixing things up. I’ve still got a few aces up my sleeve that we haven’t tried as combinations yet, but we’ll just roll with the punches.
“I think it’s going to be a great contest (with Finley). They’ve been dark horses and they’re travelling well, but I think we’re up for the challenge.
“It should be a cracker game.”
The Cats made an altogether different but nonetheless pivotal statement of their own in Saturday’s action, knocking over Mulwala across the border.
The clash represented an arm-wrestle throughout all four quarters, but Finley trailed at the first two changes before pulling ahead by the slimmest of margins with a quarter to play.
Eventually holding their nerve to close out a tough assignment 52-47, the Cats advanced to a 9-3 record as a titanic battle of first against third waits on the other side of the general bye.
There was a top-four clash this weekend too though, as reigning premier Tongala collided with Moama.
The Olivia Taverna-led Magpies got a solid early jump, leading 15-9 at the first change, and the buffer only slightly wobbled from then on as the black-and-white jumped to second thanks to an eventual 50-43 victory that shored up second spot.
Numurkah and Echuca United closed out the weekend in a clash between sides with a solitary win and draw to their names.
The Eagles enjoyed a galvanising result in moving to 10 points for the season, conceding only three goals in the third term to walk out comfortable 53-31 winners.
The league will now break for a bye.
When action returns in round 13 on July 13, Cobram will host Congupna and Barooga will travel to Moama.