The return of the Picola District League has seen Mathoura produce an almighty upset over the A-grade ladder leaders during the weekend.
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Katamatite suffered its first loss of the season as the Timbercutters saluted by eight goals on their home deck.
Mathoura led from start-to-finish in the round-10 contest to clinch a 41-33 victory.
It was only Mathoura's second win of the campaign.
Winning coach Rita Howard was over the moon with the performance from her group against quality opposition.
“It was really good, (Katamatite) were top of the ladder, and we knew they were going to be super hard,” Howard said.
“But we were prepared.
“Like I say, we come out every week expecting to play a top-of-the-ladder team.
“The girls played fantastic, and they deserved that win.
“I told them to stick to the basics and our game play and do what we know works and work together and have each other’s backs and they did.”
Howard spoke highly of her side's attacking trio, Kat Wippell, attacker Mikalah Hard and shooter Shantelle Worsnop.
The Timbercutters’ mentor labelled her attacking contingent "a really good combination".
However, it was the efforts of defensive duo Jordy Barrrett and Bec McCluskey that stood out most.
“Realistically they all played well, the defence is strong, and I think our attack end is getting stronger every week,” Howard said.
“Jordy Barrrett (GD) and Bec McCluskey (GK) played an excellent game.
“Our 17-and-under we put in, Isabella Jachim, I put her in a position she had never played before (wing defence) and she did exactly what I asked of her.”
Howard touched on how the lockdown in Victoria had impacted her playing group.
“We didn’t train last week; I threw it out to the girls because a lot of the girls come from Echuca,” she said.
“We have got to be respectful of that, it is not like it’s nothing to consider, it’s COVID.
“There was a few that said, ‘I’d rather not’, so that was fine.
“I think they were a little frightened that what happened last year would happen again.
“It was frightening for a while, because we thought everything would stop again once we’d just got into the groove of things.
“It did shake the girls and the clubs, everything has changed.
“I think they find a new hunger because they know they can go forward and they were just happy to be here and playing netball.”
● Strathmerton returned to the action with plenty of bite.
The Bulldogs dealt second-placed Jerilderie an eight-goal defeat.
It was a memorable win on the road for the reigning premier, with the 49-41 result keeping the seventh-ranked Bulldogs within striking distance of the pacesetters.
Meanwhile, Waaia has secured an important away win against Deniliquin Rovers.
The Bombers edged over the line by two goals, which sees them jump inside the competition's top-four.
Elsewhere, Katandra supporters walked away with barely any nails left on their fingers after the Kats triumphed by one-goal over Berrigan.
The nail-biting 51-50 win keeps Katandra's finals hopes alive.
Lastly, Picola United enjoyed a 56-42 win over Tocumwal, while Katunga sailed past Blighty 68-19.
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