Kyabram’s only hope of netball representation in this season’s Goulburn Valley League finals, the Stella Trezise-led under-17 team, took another step toward qualifying against Euroa on Saturday.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
With five games remaining the Bombers are sitting sixth on the ladder, but have the team they face in the second last round of the season — Seymour — breathing down their neck.
Neither the Bombers or Lions are within reach of the top five teams, with fifth-ranked Rochester three games clear inside the top six.
Kyabram faces Mansfield (tenth), Shepparton United (eighth) and third-ranked Moooroopna before facing Seymour in round 17.
On Saturday little between the two teams, ninth-ranked Euroa match the Bombers in the opening term. Captain Stella Trezise and co-defender Grace Burnett restricted the Magpies to five second term goals and Kyabram suddenly led by six.
In the third term the teams both scored 10 goals and Kyabram’s narrow advantage in the final term led to a 46-38 win. Rose Cunningham was the pick of the goalers, shooting 26 goals alongside Jemae Miller (20 goals).
Ava Pell again controlled the mid-court as the team remains on track for a spot in the September action.
Facing the team that sits a game clear on top of the A-grade ladder, Kyabram’s youthful combination was super impressive in the first half of the round 13 game.
Natasha Dodos shot 21 first half goals as her team was just six goals behind at half time, Jemma Hall and Monique Williams doing their bit in defence to keep the team in touch.
It was again Abby Waasdorp and Isla Carver in the mid-court who had a major influence on the team matching it with the competition yardstick, but in the third term the Bombers managed just six goals.
Euroa won the second half 38-14 and finished a 70-39 victor.
Kyabram’s B-reserve team has a chance to make a charge at the top six, despite losing its game on the weekend to fifth ranked Euroa.
The Bombers lost the game by 12 goals, 39-51, and are still two games outside the top six with five rounds remaining. The ninth-ranked team does, however, have games against three teams outside the top six — Mansfield (12th), United (eighth) and Mooroopna (10th) in the next three weeks.
Defender Larissa Sherman was a stand out in the game, working in defence with Tearna Filbey, while the team captain and most consistent performer Rachel McCormack was also among the better players.
Kyabram trailed by 15 goals at half time, but outscored its higher ranked opposition by three goals in the second half. Elli Kiker (21 goals) and Abbey Watson (18) worked well together in the latter stages of the game.
A slow start against B-grade top team Euroa cost the Bombers any chance of an upset, despite a strong finish to the contest.
Trailing by 21 goals at half time, captain Micaela Herbert shot 18 goals in the second half and finished with 30 for the game as her team lost the match 36-65.
Hannah Newman worked in tandem with Herbert to finish the game strongly, while Jayda Richardson was the pick of the defenders.
The 10th placed team has a couple of winnable games ahead, against Mansfield (11th) and United (eighth) and will be hoping to improve on its 2-11 win/loss record.
Kyabram’s under-15 team remains two games outside the top six after a disappointing loss to 10th ranked Euroa on Saturday.
The Bombers, who are ninth, had a slow start to the game and managed just 12 first half goals to trail by 13 at half time.
Despite being outscored by just two in the second half they lost the game 30-45, in spite of the defensive efforts of Jenna Quattrocchi.
She spent the first half working in tandem with Mia Kilpatrick, who shot seven goals in the second half when moved into attack.
Mia Lyons started in goals, but moved onto a wing and became a major contributor to the Bombers charge. Captain Ruby Baker started in centre and moved successfully into defence for the second half.