Euroa U13 division one upset ladder leaders Kyabram

U11 BLACK DIV ONE By JAMES BODYCOAT Euroa’s U11 Black girls ended their season in style with a commanding 22–2 win over Tatura. Right from the first whistle, Euroa looked switched on. Within 10 seconds, Ava and Lily combined to set up Paige for the opener, and from there the goals flowed. Scarlett’s drive through the middle kept the ball moving, while Lily and Paige shot with confidence to see Euroa lead by eight at quarter time. Tatura showed fight in the second quarter, but Euroa’s defence held firm. Lex, Holley, and Ella were rock solid, pulling in rebounds and turning defence into attack. Scarlett continued her tireless work, and Matilda made an immediate impact in goals, helping extend the margin by nine leading into halftime. Claire took centre stage in the third, pulling off intercepts and driving the ball forward. With Ava and Scarlett linking up through mid-court, Paige and Matilda finished off the good work to push the advantage to 13 at the final change. The last quarter was all Euroa, with Matilda unstoppable in the circle, bagging six goals for the term. Claire continued her defensive dominance, while Lily and Paige kept the ball zipping with sharp, accurate passing. SCOREBOARD: Euroa 22 defeated Tatura 2 COACHES AWARD: Scarlett UNDER 13 FIVE By LAUREN CUMMINGS The weather was unkind early, and it took some time for the hands to warm up. Our opponent this week was a strong side, Kyabram, and the game was fast paced from the start. Isla Healey and Harlow Cummins in the attacking end provided excellent movement, giving Euroa goalers plenty of opportunities in the first quarter. Kyabram found their stride in the second quarter and moved away on the scoreboard. This was not for lack of effort from the girls, who put hands over everything. Some questionable calls made for an interesting game, but Lilly Cakebread and Skye Cameron pushed through against tough Kyabram defenders. Kyabram took a six goal lead into half time. In the third quarter, Ella Kelly supported the team, and momentum began to swing. Zoe Pretlove and Olivia Kelly were impressive in defence, adjusting their distance for the umpire accordingly. Their efforts resulted in some fantastic intercepts and strong rebounds. These two defenders, week on week, are becoming increasingly exciting to watch as they grow familiar with each other’s positions. Going into the last quarter eight goals down it all belonged to Euroa. Mackenzie Hamill moved to goal attack and had an outstanding quarter, with Euroa scoring seven goals to Kyabram’s two. If only there had been five more minutes, the result might have swung the other way. Similar to last week, our girls went down by three. Well done, team, on another solid effort to finish the season. We are looking forward to finals next week. AWARD: Zoe Pretlove COACHES AWARD: Lauren Cummins UNDER 15 By KYLIE PENNY The girls were feeling a little nervous heading into this week’s match. With fierce competition in the GSSC Wildcats and doubts surrounding the team, icy cold conditions and a strong wind made even the most accurate players second guess their abilities. The opening centre pass went to Wildcats, who immediately showed their intent. The first quarter was tough, and despite defensive pressure from Audrey (C), Heidi W, and Addy, the Wildcats converted strongly to lead nine to zero at the break. Brianna and Aggy lifted in the ring to get Euroa on the board in the second quarter. Strong intercepts from Bridie and Audrey kept the pressure on, while Heidi S moved around the court with purpose in centre. Wildcats continued to convert, taking a 17 to four lead into half time. As the game progressed, the girls grew in confidence. Their passes became more direct, even against taller opposition. By the end of the third and into the final quarter, Euroa fought back with multiple goals in quick succession. Mabel and Anika worked hard in the mid court with more clean intercepts, while Aggy’s efforts in centre helped push the scoreboard Euroa’s way. Although defeated, Euroa finished strongly, playing their best netball in the last quarter. Their intercepts were sharp and their sportsmanship admirable, particularly against a physical and vocal opposition. The girls held their heads high, knowing their final quarter performance was outstanding. SCOREBOARD: Wildcats 23 defeated Euroa 14 EPIC PLAYER AWARD: Anika Glasbergen (WD) for relentless pressure UNDER 13 DIV ONE By JO BURDEN Euroa Under 13 Division one capped off their home and away season in style last Saturday, defeating ladder leaders Kyabram Diamonds in what proved to be a confidence boosting victory. Kyabram have been a dominant force all year, but Euroa came out strong and held their nerve, toppling the competition’s leading side just in time for finals. The growth shown by the Euroa girls throughout the season now makes them a genuine contender. In defence, Isla Moore and Issy Gordon were outstanding. Their pressure shut down Kyabram’s attacking end, forcing turnovers and giving Euroa plenty of opportunities to stay level in the contest. The mid court combination of Molly Fowler, Tully Watson, and Mackenzie Hamill provided speed and energy, quickly turning defence into attack. Their ability to intercept and transition the ball proved crucial in shifting momentum Euroa’s way. Up front, Zara Hill, Evie Buchanan, and Ava Gordon worked tirelessly against the Kyabram defence. Their clever movement and determination to gain front position allowed them to capitalise on scoring chances and keep Euroa within reach. At three quarter time, Kyabram held a two-goal lead, but Euroa refused to back down, surging home with accuracy and composure in the final term to claim an impressive 21 to 17 goal win. The strong finish sets Euroa up perfectly as they head into finals. This week’s award went to Isla Moore. UNDER 11 WHITE By HAYLEY RAGLUS This week, in the last game of the season, Euroa Under 11 White faced Tatura. The girls came out strong and it was neck-and-neck all game. April and Joclyn worked hard in the midcourt, with both making several great intercepts that led to turnovers. Maya impressed in defence, reading the play, moving well, and keeping in front of her player, making Tatura’s shooters’ jobs difficult. Olivia and Peyton’s passes were accurate, helping to move the ball towards Euroa’s goals. Olivia effectively executed a couple of clever bounce passes to manoeuvre the ball around Tatura’s defenders. Kanika was quick on her feet, finding space and chasing loose balls all game. The score was 4 to 6 goals Tatura’s way heading into the fourth quarter, and the girls came out raring to go. Georgia and Marley worked well together in goals, with Marley feeding confidently and Georgia shooting consistently. Georgia scored four goals in the final term to help level the match. Earlier in the season, Euroa lost to Tatura by 10 goals, so to tie this time was a great achievement and showed how much the team has improved. A huge thank you goes to coach Caitlin Crowe for her patience, kindness, and commitment to providing equal playing time and opportunities for every player. Caitlin’s positive and encouraging attitude has ensured the girls enjoyed their netball and were eager to turn up to training and games each week. SCOREBOARD: Euroa 8 defeated Tatura 8 AWARD: Maya

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