Numurkah strengthens finals aspirations with mid-table Murray Netball League clash

After missing finals last season, The Road and the Blues have shown signs of improvement this year.

The mid-table clash promised to be an entertaining encounter, and according to Numurkah coach Laura Ryan, the two teams left nothing on the court.

“It was definitely a game of ebbs and flows," Ryan said.

“It was nice to start well and get ourselves in a strong position, which was nice because that is definitely a part of our game we haven’t been able to pull together yet.

“Certainly Congupna threw everything at us but we were able to weather that storm.”

Numurkah’s fast start to the match proved to be a mountain too big for Congupna to climb, as the visitors rolled over their rivals to secure an eight-goal 32-40 victory.

The win moves the Blues to sixth spot on the ladder with three wins (one better already than 2024) one-third of the way through the home-and-away season.

Ryan said Numurkah’s next block of games will give a better indication of whether her Blues belong among the upper echelon of the Murray league.

“It’s nice to get another win and now sit with a record of 3-3 after a tough start in terms of teams we have faced,” she said.

“I think our next string of games in the few weeks ahead of here look like games that are more 50-50.

“(The win) just puts that belief (into the team) and it’s a nice little indicator of how things are tracking.

“We are keen to consolidate a few things (in our game) before we have (Rumbalara) again in a few weeks’ time."

Part of the reason behind the excitement that is building out at Numurkah is due to the rise of young gun Neive O’Dwyer.

The 18-year-old has become a regular in the Blues' A-grade line-up and was awarded best-on-court honours for her performance against The Road on Saturday.

Ryan was glowing in her summary of O’Dwyer’s impact on the group.

“She is a young player at our club and has played quite a bit of senior netball by now which is impressive for her age,” she said.

“It has been really exciting to see her game keep progressing.

“I gave her a role at the start (of the match) and she did that to a T, so really excited to see how else she can grow and develop in the rest of the season.”

With plenty of list turnover during the off-season, Ryan said the Blues had placed their focus on building connection from one goal end to the other.

“Having a completely new side there is heaps to work on and do,” she said.

“Just our trust in each other and the way we are able to stick together and rally when things don’t go to plan.

“No one walks off the court with a negative mindset, we have been able to maintain a real positive and team-first approach and I think that is a strength of ours at the moment and will hopefully help us go far.”

In the other split round six matches on Saturday, Deniliquin Rams played out a thriller against Echuca United on the Hardinge St Oval courts.

The Rams made the most of their home atmosphere and outlasted the Eagles to win the match by four goals (42-38).

Tongala breezed past Cobram on the road.

The Blues won the match by 15 goals (28-43) and now sit in ninth spot on the ladder having caught up with the group hunting for finals.