Thrilling draw and narrow losses for netballers!

They showed great determination and a real grinding mentality to ensure Lavi didn't run away with the game; this was particularly evident heading into the final quarter.

Trailing by 11 goals, the girls went to work applying relentless defensive pressure across the court to force turnovers and create opportunities for their attackers to stream down the court and find strong targets in the goal circle.

Their hard work paid off, with the margin reduced to just five goals by the final whistle.

There were certainly opportunities to take control of the game and push for the win, however, a few lapses in concentration across the 60 minutes allowed Lavington to capitalise on errors.

Despite the result, it was a fantastic team effort; a big shout-out to our B Grade players who sit on our bench each week.

Whether they take the court or not, they contribute their voices, support, and encouragement, and are an invaluable part of our team.

Awards

Club 1-7 Club MVP: Ange Demamiel led from the front, bringing intensity and flair to the attacking end; playing at WA she worked hard to get onto the ball, providing strong direction in the attacking third, and delivering beautiful feeds into the circle. When moved into C, Ange was unstoppable; the opposition rotated four different players in an attempt to keep up with her, but her work rate and endurance were outstanding throughout the match.

Club 2 MVP: Chloe Gilcrist had a tough start to the game but, to her credit, dug deep and found her rhythm in the second half, creating valuable space for Lisa under the post with her circle sweeps extremely difficult for the opposition to contain. Chloe also played a key role in sparking a fourth-quarter comeback, nailing three mid-range goals in the opening two minutes of the quarter and helping shift the momentum back in the Roos’ favour.

Opposition MVP: Mik Trethowan put in another fantastic performance providing a reliable outlet in transition and a strong presence in attack throughout the game. Her defensive pressure caused plenty of headaches for her opponents, with multiple players rotating onto her across the match; Mik's work rate and consistency made her a significant influence on the contest from start to finish.

B Grade

Corowa Rutherglen 37 def by Lavington 48

The Roos walk away from this weekend with a combination of pride and heartbreak as they find themselves outside finals contention after an 11-goal loss to Lavington in B grade.

It was only minor errors across the game that cost them ladder points, but in this competition this season, they are held fully accountable for every step away from perfection and this has sadly punctured their dreams of playing further than round 18.

Awards

Club 1: Audrey Hogan was outstanding in defence, forcing errors with her early pressure and winning ball back, providing opportunities for their attackers to close the gap.

Essential Beauty: Courtney Haigh was another weapon in the back line, combining well with her defensive partners to force several balls over the baseline and ripping in some crucial rebounds when the Lavington shooters produced a rare, missed shot.

Canteen: Tori Sampson was relentless in her milestone 50th game, delaying the quick run on of the Lavington midcourt and allowing time for her teammates behind her to pick off balls that were forced to be fed off circle edge with hands over pressure.

C Grade

Corowa Rutherglen 44 drew Lavington 44

C Grade played out a thrilling 44-all draw against Lavington on Saturday in a hard-fought contest that went right down to the final whistle.

The girls started strongly but found themselves one goal down at the first break, 11–12.

A brilliant second quarter saw everyone lift their intensity across the court, outscoring Lavington 14-8 to take a five-goal lead into half-time.

Lavington responded strongly in the third, with the girls having to apply plenty of pressure as the Panthers turned the game back in their favour.

Heading into the final quarter three goals down, the Roos showed plenty of fight and composure.

They won the final term 12–10, with both sides having opportunities late before the game finished locked at 44 apiece.

It was a great display of resilience from the entire C Grade group, with players continuing to work for one another and finding ways to impact the game when momentum shifted.

Awards

Club 1: Jemma Smith put together another incredibly consistent performance across WA and WD. She provided plenty of leadership and drive through the attacking end, repeatedly hitting the circle edge and delivering beautiful passes into the shooters. When moved into WD, Jemma transitioned seamlessly into defence, creating plenty of turnovers and coming up with important ball when the team needed it most.

Club 2: Sommers Hogan played a beautiful game at GD and was a constant headache for the Lavington shooters; her defensive pressure and ability to win and disrupt ball were complemented by her strong drive through transition. Sommers remained calm and composed throughout the game and provided a reliable presence from start to finish.

Club 3: Sophie Arnold had an immediate impact, helping change the momentum of the game; she connected beautifully with the attacking unit, creating space and delivering quality feeds into the circle while also applying outstanding defensive pressure. Sophie was later swung into GA and GS, where she remained composed and smart with ball in hand. Her versatility and leadership were particularly important in the pressure moments late in the game.

The team now turn their attention to North Albury in the final game of the home-and-away season, with another important four quarters ahead before the group shifts its focus to finals.

With plenty to play for, C Grade will be looking to finish the season strongly and carry some positive momentum.

Under 17s

Corowa Rutherglen 24 def by Lavington 75

The Under 17s Roos came up against Lavington on the weekend, a very strong side who had only lost one game throughout the home-and-away season.

The Roos knew the Panthers would bring plenty of skill and fast transition, so they had to be at their best across all four quarters.

The coach was incredibly proud of the girls for producing one of their best performances of the season.

The way they connected on court, trusted one another, and executed their game plan was outstanding.

Every player contributed, and the effort and determination shown on Saturday was fantastic.

Awards

Club 1: Grace Milthorpe had an incredible game at GS; after working hard on her shooting technique and building confidence at training she showcased exactly what she is capable of. Grace played a beautiful game, finishing strongly and receiving MVP awards from both teams.

Club 2: Liliana Murray-Wright had a big task against a very talented goal shooter; she read the play exceptionally well, stepped off the body at the right times, hedged strongly to the side, and created numerous turnovers for the team. Her defensive pressure and ability to win back possession were tremendous.

Club 3: Clodagh Away’s work rate through attack was outstanding; she continually created great opportunities with clear and direct transition, and her movement from centre pass to goal was brilliant. Clodagh’s effort and willingness to work hard for her teammates was a real highlight.

It was a fantastic performance by the entire team, with plenty to build on as they head into the final round of the season.

Under 15s

Corowa Rutherglen 21 def by Lavington 47

Corowa Rutherglen’s Under 15s showed plenty of determination in their loss to Lavington, producing strong first and last quarters to finish the match with great intensity.

A key highlight was the girls’ ability to take feedback on board and incorporate it into their game as the match progressed.

Their willingness to listen, adapt, and adjust demonstrated great maturity and teamwork.

The girls continued to compete strongly throughout the game, finishing with a positive and encouraging final quarter.

Awards

Sportspower: Asha Mardling was consistent in defence; she had strong hands over the shooters this week and produced a solid 60 minutes of netball.

Chocolate Factory: Isobel Bruce’s ability to swing into the defensive ring and isolate her GA was amazing; she has a strong netball brain and quickly adjusts to her opponent’s game to create strong defensive pressure.

Canteen: Bella Huggins worked tirelessly to create space for her teammates in the goal circle, and scored 5 of the team's 21 goals.