NETBALL A GRADE It was always going to be a tough ask for Violet Town heading to third placed Rushworth. That task was made even harder with goal shooter Maddie Gottschling unable to take the court due to injury, a big blow considering goal attack Jacqui Bast is also still out injured. Towners took to the court regardless, facing a very athletic and well rounded Rushworth side. While the scoreboard didn’t fall in Towners’ favour, the match showed plenty of grit and promising moments. After a tough opening quarter, Towners found their rhythm in the second and third quarters, lifting intensity across the court and challenging Rushworth’s flow. Defensively, Towners stood up well to the opposition’s athleticism, applying constant pressure and forcing key turnovers. Although Towners went down in the end, the effort, structure and determination, particularly during the middle quarters, were a credit to the team. There are definitely positives to take forward as Towners move into the final part of the season. SCOREBOARD: Rushworth 49 defeated Violet Town 24 Awards went to Kolby and Mel Humphries. B GRADE There was not much separating these two on the ladder, and it showed on the court. Towners entered the match knowing it was do or die if they were to keep their finals aspirations alive. The nerves were visible, but the determination outweighed them. Towners took a slight lead by the first break, and it was still anyone’s game as both teams fought hard. The following three quarters continued in a similar fashion, with both sides creating turnovers in defence. Towners capitalised better and, combined with their early lead, managed to get over the line. Despite battling injuries, the whole team rallied for the win and kept their finals hopes intact. SCOREBOARD: Rushworth 22 defeated by Violet Town 31 Awards went to Millie Elliston and Megan Bamford. C GRADE Towners had a cracking game against Rushworth, jumping into sixth position and keeping their finals hopes alive. A massive achievement for a team that, until round one this year, had not recorded a win in more than three years. This team showed promise with an earlier upset over Shepparton East. Although they struggled last week against bottom placed Longwood, they returned to form this week, working well across the court to secure the win. The strong scoreline came from their refusal to drop intensity at any stage. Well done. SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 49 defeated Rushworth 24 Awards went to Courtney Pilcher and Bianca Robins. C RESERVE It was a day to remember for C Reserve. This season has been a tough slog for a nearly new team, and until Saturday they were winless. But Towners fought hard and finally broke through for a well-deserved win that lifted morale. Towners started strong and looked in control early. In the third quarter, however, Rushworth found their way back into the match. Towners held firm in the last quarter, ensuring they secured the victory. SCOREBOARD: Rushworth 15 defeated by Violet Town 21 Awards went to Georgia McLean and Kaya Rufford-Sharpe. 17 AND UNDER Despite being the underdogs against third placed Rushworth, the fifth-placed Towners took the contest head on, opening up a five goal lead at the first break, with shooters Leila and Ella converting on the back of strong midcourt work. By half time, the lead had grown to seven. In the third quarter, missed opportunities to capitalise on turnovers allowed Rushworth to close the gap to four by the break. The final quarter was goal for goal, with Rushworth levelling the score with a late goal to result in a rare draw. SCOREBOARD: Rushworth 35 drew with Violet Town 35 Awards went to Georgia McLean and Ella Bast. 13 AND UNDER SCOREBOARD: Rushworth 22 defeated Violet Town 5 Awards went to Queenie and Lilly. UNDER 11 Under 11s played a fantastic game this week, coming away with a well-deserved win. The team showed great energy and spirit, with older players stepping up to lead a composed performance. From the first centre pass, the group moved the ball confidently and supported each other throughout. The teamwork and communication were standout features and reflected the development shown week by week. Defensively, Towners were solid, making space hard to find for Rushworth, while the attacking play was both creative and composed. There were many smart decisions and strong contributions across every position. A great team effort and a proud win. SCOREBOARD: Rushworth 4 defeated by Violet Town 23 Awards went to Bella, Rylie and Queenie. FOOTBALL UNDER 12 The Towners Under 12s hosted Undera on Saturday morning. With Undera undermanned, Violet Town showed excellent sportsmanship by lending them three players per quarter. This added a fun twist to the game, especially when siblings played directly against each other. Both teams displayed strong skills and even stronger sportsmanship. Towners dominated in attack, with the ball spending most of the time in their forward line. However, inaccuracy in front of goal remains a concern, as there were far more behinds than goals. Still, several goals were scored, and Towners proudly sang the club song after the final siren. Congratulations to the Towners players who supported Undera, and thanks to Undera for making the early trip despite low numbers. Awards went to Henry, Luke, Hunter, George, and Cooper.
