Minor premiership race stays at three and spots still up for grabs in Kyabram District League netball

Jul 28, 2024

Shepparton East keeps on trucking in its quest to unseat Lancaster at the summit. Photo by Megan Fisher

Three rounds remain in Kyabram District League netball, but the race is only becoming more pulsating by the weekend.

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Little has been determined after 13 attempts in the division, with three alive in the race for the minor premiership alone.

Though it has appeared Lancaster’s to lose for the majority of the year, Shepparton East is still doing all it can to keep the heat on the ladder-leading Wombats.

The Eagles welcomed Merrigum to the courts of Central Park in a pivotal encounter where the home side simply had to make a statement in its quest for an unlikely potential minor premiership, or more likely, a top-two berth.

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Merrigum’s Emma Pummeroy had to stay busy around the ring. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Merrigum’s Breanna Baker gets down to the asphalt in retrieving the ball. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Merrigum’s Gabbey Beveridge got on the move going forward. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Merrigum’s Gabbey Beveridge contests at the restart of play. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Shepparton East’s Claire Doherty was observing for options. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Shepparton East’s Bianca Kelly and Merrigum’s Gabbey Beveridge were in the thick of it. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Merrigum’s Renee Doyle provided a familiar face. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Shepparton East's Bianca Kelly takes a breather. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Shepparton East’s Rebecca Rendina put in a victorious midcourt shift. Photo by Megan Fisher

The Eagles put the afterburners on quickly against their then-10th-placed foes, with the Bulldogs left completely stranded from the outset as last year’s undefeated premiers charged home to a rampant 61-18 result.

The 10th win and 11th set of points for Kate Durling’s side were, of course, most welcome.

“We need to keep winning,” Durling said.

“We sit second only by the skin of our teeth, so we need to build percentage as it might just come down to that.

“We just have to try and hold on, so we’re definitely powering through.

“We had a really good start; I’ve been trying to build that throughout the season to set that momentum throughout the game.

“It’s about winning, but it’s also about getting some new blood through the A-grade when we can to share the workload among the girls; one of the young ones from 17-and-under played a half this week.”

Though Lancaster continues to loom as the heavyweight battle in the regular season finale, Dookie United this weekend will be threatening all the same in a tight jostle for spots.

“We’re not getting too ahead of ourselves and looking at Lancaster yet,” Durling said.

“Dookie is a very strong side, so we won’t take anything for granted coming into the weekend with Girgarre breathing down our necks.

“We’ve got to continue winning because I think Girgarre’s run home is quite easy compared to ours.

“It won’t dampen our spirits if we don’t finish second; we’re optimistic, but keeping it real as well.”

What obviously would not help them finish any higher was the news from just up north of Tallygaroopna’s 12-goal defeat to Lancaster, which helped maintain the Wombats’ unbeaten run despite a stern challenge.

Though the aspirations of claiming the top spot would still take significant help from elsewhere at this stage, the points all count vitally as far as locking in a double chance.

After all, Girgarre hasn’t gone anywhere yet in the three-horse race.

The Kangaroos had a similarly dominant showing in Saturday’s meeting with Undera, which would simply be aiming to avoid the wooden spoon with two wins for the season, as Girgarre kept in lock-step with Shepparton East courtesy of a 59-29 win.

Though the Eagles and Kangaroos appear well-insulated in a battle between themselves for the double chance, Nagambie’s hot streak has provided a little bit to think about immediately beneath them.

The fourth-placed Lakers have been consistenly getting the job done amidst a tussle with Dookie for that ladder position, now at a streak of six straight wins following a comfortable 32-16 triumph over Violet Town.

However, the Thunder are by no means done yet despite their points handicap.

A trip to Avenel yielded fruit as Dookie returned to a streak of two wins following two tough setbacks, sitting behind Nagambie on percentage, but putting a significant dent in the Swans’ September plans by winning 42-36.

The news would not get better for the southern reaches of the competition as Longwood made the trip north to Stanhope, which had the plate set to take advantage of slip-ups by Violet Town and Avenel.

It most certainly would not let that opportunity pass by, going a game and comfortable percentage clear of the Towners in sixth place after a huge 54-18 result at home.

The Lions’ next task will be Murchison-Toolamba on the way, and the Grasshoppers will be galvanised after finally turning around a spate of hard recent fortunes.

Though finals are now extinguished for the green and gold, Murchison-Toolamba was able to move past two extremely tight defeats and a blowout at the hands of Shepparton East by overpowering bottom side Rushworth 36-21.