Yilanii Atkinson looks for a teammate during Rumbalara’s big win over Moama.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
Rumbalara, Nathalia and Mulwala remain unbeaten to start the 2025 season after each securing wins in round two of the Murray Netball League A-grade competition.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Reigning premier Rumbalara remains the team to beat this year, accounting for Moama away from home with a thumping 57-30 win.
The Mercury Dve inhabitants got off to a brilliant start, firing home 17 goals in the opening term while restricting the Magpies to just eight, setting the tone for the rest of the contest.
By half time the lead was out to 20, with the Rumba defensive end keeping Moama to just three goals in the second term, while the shooters continued their brilliant form to add 14 of their own, entering the main break with a 31-11 advantage.
It was more of the same after half-time, with Rumbalara stretching the lead out to 23 with a quarter to play, before once again extending the margin in the final term to run out 27-goal winners.
Rumbalara’s Jessie Barnes-Hill receives the ball under the net.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
The victory ensures Rumbalara sits comfortably atop the ladder through two rounds, having scored 134 goals across their two games so far, over 20 more than the next best side, ensuring their goal average percentage sits at a league high 1.79.
Conversely, Moama, which has been there or thereabouts for quite some time, slump to 0-2 and bottom spot on the ladder with the worst percentage in the league, a start that not many would have predicted two weeks ago.
Olivia Taverna looks to advance the ball down the court.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
Alexandra Daly wins the ball under pressure.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
Nathalia slots into second behind Rumbalara after a brilliant 36-33 win over Deniliquin at Hardinge St.
The Purples shot out to a 9-7 lead at quarter time, which was doubled as they entered the half time break ahead 18-14.
But the Rams fired back with a 13-goal third term to draw level at 27 apiece at the final change, and looked to have the momentum heading into the fourth quarter.
Frugal defensive work from Nathalia saw just six goals scored by Deniliquin, however, as the Purples put through nine of their own to claim a three-goal win and remain unbeaten to start the year.
In fact, the Purples have been so stingy at the defensive end that they have allowed just 58 goals in their two games, streets ahead of the competition with only three other sides conceding less than 70 in the opening two rounds.
Mulwala is one such side, with the Lions restricting Cobram to just 30 goals in their clash at Scott Oval on Saturday while firing home 45 to clinch a 15-goal victory, moving up to third as the only other remaining side to keep their perfect record intact thus far.
The Lions finished as best of the rest last season in seventh, missing finals just one year on from finishing runners-up to Tongala in 2023, but early signs suggest they could be back to their best.
Sophie Atkinson looks to feed the ball inside the circle.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
Tongala got its first win on the board for season 2025 over Barooga, with the Blues recording a thumping 61-30 victory at home.
The big margin of victory comes despite a slow start which saw Tongala lead by just three goals at quarter time, with the Hawks seemingly up for the challenge.
Moama defender Abby Larkin assesses her options.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
But the Blues pulled away in the second to lead by 10 at half-time, before a supercharged second half saw them blow Barooga out of the water, with a 20-goal to eight final term the cherry on top.
Congupna too put their first win on the board this year with a 24-goal triumph over Finley at Memorial Park, while Numurkah was also in the winner’s circle with a 40-33 victory over Echuca United, joining five other sides at 1-1 to start the year.
16°C