Rumbalara’s Sarah Thorpe and her teammates clinched the Unity Cup over Congupna during Saturday’s season opener.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Playing away from home, heading in as the hunted, with silverware on the line.
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Rumbalara had a myriad of reasons to feel nervous in the season opener of its Murray Netball League premiership defence on Saturday.
Playing against Congupna on its home court, lining up in the 17th edition of the Unity Cup, Rumba coach Jess Bamblett didn’t shirk the fact her side maybe took a tad longer to get rolling during round one of the new season.
But as many powerhouses do, the reigning premier steadied, aimed and shot its way to a statement victory as Rumbalara opened its account for the campaign with a 77-45 victory over The Road.
Rumbalara’s Jess Bamblett led her side to a win on day one of the new season.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Congupna’s Eula Smith marshals the defence as Rumbalara swings forward.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Rumbalara’s Yilanii Atkinson winds up a lobbed pass over the top.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Congupna’s Hannah O'Meara eyes off a pass from the wing.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Rumbalara’s Jessie Barnes-Hill jostles for space underneath the ring.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Congupna’s Morgan Zotti was a force through the midcourt for The Road.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Rumbalara’s Nakiah Bamblett eyes off a pass inside the semi circle.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Congupna’s Lauren Good locks on to the target underneath the ring.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Congupna’s Sophie Sidebottom spins around looking for the next play.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“It took us a little while to get into the game because Congupna came out firing,” Bamblett said.
“They were very consistent, but the girls stuck to their guns and pushed out to an easy win which I’m pretty happy about.
“It was for the Unity Cup, celebrating women in sport, so it was a great win for our opener and gives us great confidence to go into the season I think.”
Congupna, despite missing finals last season, showed every shade of a side ready to take the top six by storm in the opening quarter as it held pace with Rumbalara.
The Road trailed 17-15 at the first break, but try as they might, the hosts couldn’t prevent Rumba from hammering on the accelerator and ballooning out the slim lead to a 20-goal buffer by half-time.
Rumbalara, having shaken off the early rust, made it 61-30 by three-quarter time and piled on another 16 goals during the last term for good measure in a high-scoring shootout to start the season.
Unsurprisingly, Bamblett heaped praise on her shooting threats in the wake of a 32-goal win.
“It was a great team effort, but you can’t help but go past Jess Barnes, dominant in there working with Sophie (Atkinson),” she said.
“It’s hard to pick, but it was an attacker’s game on Saturday.”
Now, Bamblett and her charges eye off a grand final rematch in round two against a Moama side that fell to Nathalia 55-25 at the weekend.
With four points banked to kick off the campaign, the Rumbalara leader acknowledged there’s a long road ahead, but is eager to see what the 2025 campaign holds.
“We’re looking forward to it; it’s not easy going to Moama’s home court, but we’re up for the challenge and can’t wait to see what they’ve got to bring,” Bamblett said.
“It’s pretty exciting that we could go back to back, but it’s a whole different season and I’ve heard there have been a few different movements around.
“There were a couple of wins that questioned who is going to be in for it; it’s always hard when you’ve got a target on your back going into the season, but we’re up for the challenge.”
In other games, Numurkah was outmuscled 48-33, while Echuca United had the better of Tongala 41-29 to raise some eyebrows out west.
Elsewhere, Finley toppled Cobram 42-33, while Deniliquin felled Barooga by 14 goals.
