MNL | Numurkah on cloud nine after going back-to-back

By Liam Nash

Apr 9, 2023

Win soured by injury: Ex-Nathalia shooter Tamara Skinner picked up an injury before half-time on Good Friday. Photo by Steve Huntley

It may be early in the season, but there’s no wiping smiles off the Numurkah netballers’ faces after the Blues notched their second win on the bounce.

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The kicker? No more than nine days ago, the side had not won a game since 2019.

Fiona Elliott’s side broke the duck with a romping round one triumph over Finley, proving they’re far from one trick ponies after backing it up on Saturday with a convincing 23-goal victory against Tocumwal.

Elliott admitted while it wasn’t perfect, the performance had all the trimmings of a team which seems destined to burst out of the doldrums.

“It was a bit of a messy game, there were a lot of turnovers and it was up and down, but we worked our way through it so it was a good one for us in the end,” she said.

“We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves, we haven’t played the strongest teams yet, but after not having a win since 2019 it was really important for us to take every opportunity that we got early on to try and get that first win on the board.

“The girls are really happy and I’m really pleased that we’ve managed to get off to such a good start.”

Numurkah made the most of a healthy opening term, taking a six-goal lead into the initial break but change would soon be forced as prolific goaler Tamara Skinner picked up an injury before half-time.

Young talent Abby Commadeur entered the fold in attack and showed maturity beyond her years in what was her first foray into A-grade netball.

While she held things down inside the offensive ring for Numurkah, Sophie Morris and Caitlyn Price kept Tocumwal’s threats at bay to help the Blues along to a 51-28 win.

Elliott indicated both Commadeur’s entrance as well as the new defensive combination of Morris and Price was icing on the cake for a side flying off the back of a booming preseason.

“There was a bit of excitement amongst the girls, both the girls that were there previously and new players coming in,” she said.

“(Preseason) was good to be a part of, there’s just a really good positive vibe amongst the club as a whole.”

In other matches, Tongala remains on the winners’ list after beating Nathalia 51-30, while Deniliquin is the only other unbeaten side following its 55-goal demolition of Finley.

Cobram got off the mark with a 32-21 derby win over Barooga, Congupna fell to Mulwala 56-22 and Moama raced to a 22-goal triumph over Echuca United.