The under-13s faced off against Mooroopna in a semi-final after placing fourth on the ladder at the end of their regular season.
In another tight encounter between the two clubs, the River Rats went down 3-2 to be eliminated from the finals’ series.
The side competed well considering it included several bottom-age players, with only one ageing out next year.
“This is their third year as a core group playing together, so we’re quite excited to see their development over the next couple of years, while they still remain in the under-13s and grow to that older age,” EMHC secretary Rebecca Webb said.
Meanwhile, the under-16s had one more regular season match-up before the post-season in their division.
They faced a combined Shepparton Christian College-Mooroopna Hockey Club outfit, with a semi-final spot on offer for the winner.
Echuca-Moama went down 3-1, meaning it fell narrowly short of qualifying for the post-season.
The River Rats ended the season bottom of the five-team competition, with the SCC-Mooroopna side overtaking them into fourth with that result.
The two sides finished with four points each, equating to the same win ratio, but Echuca-Moama’s goal difference was worse by seven.
The under-16s have also featured a few underage players, some so young they are still eligible for the under-13s competition.
That made the adjustment to playing games on a full-sized field all the trickier, reflected in the side only winning once in 2026.
“We didn’t have an abundance of players,” Webb said.
“They had a tough season, but one of growth and development and learning.”
Like the under-16s, the senior women also wrapped up their regular season last Saturday, where they thrashed Shepparton Youth Club 4-0.
Echuca-Moama finished its campaign in second with a 9-2-4 record, 11 points adrift of minor premier Mooroopna, but 12 clear of third-placed Shepparton Strikers.
The River Rats will be favoured to progress to the grand final this weekend when they face the Strikers in a semi-final at Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex.
Webb, who also plays in the side — said it is looking to use the fixture to prepare for a likely grand final against Mooroopna.
Echuca-Moama has not beaten the minor premier across five meetings in 2026, with one draw and four defeats, though three of the four losses were by a goal.
“I think [we] just need to stick to our structure and our game and not worry about what they’re doing, and stick to what we know and what we do best, and just play simple, good hockey,” Webb said.
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