Shepparton's Kim Borger shot 47 goals as her Bears defeated Euroa at the weekend.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
A heavyweight showdown promised a classic — and Shepparton delivered the knockout.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
In front of an eager Deakin Reserve crowd and under the weight of expectation, the Bears knocked Euroa from its perch with a commanding 57-48 win that was equal parts statement, spectacle and subtle shift in Goulburn Valley League netball power.
Leading up to the match, Magpies coach Ellie Warnock said “these are the kind of games that help us build as a team, win or lose — and prepare us for the intensity of finals.”
She couldn’t have been more spot on.
A head-to-head clash between the competition’s two deadliest sharpshooters delivered in spades and, when the dust settled, it was Shepparton coach and star shooter Kim Borger who stood tallest, drilling 47 goals in a clinical display.
Shepparton's Mackenzie O'Dwyer dishes off a dime pass.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 2 of 6
Euroa's Olivia Morris shot 43 goals against the Bears.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 3 of 6
Shepparton's Caitlyn Tuohey takes a moment to reset.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 4 of 6
Euroa's Kellie Davidson was among her side’s best players.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 5 of 6
Euroa's Olivia Morris holds onto the ball while an option presents.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 6 of 6
Shepparton's Hannah Crawley and Euroa's Olivia Morris.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Her duel with Olivia Morris, Euroa’s own scoring juggernaut, was as captivating as billed.
Morris drained 43 of her own — just another day at the office for her — but for once, it wasn’t quite enough to drag the Magpies over the line.
From the outset, Shepparton set the tone.
A blistering 16-10 first quarter in the Bears’ favour built belief, stirring the crowd into thinking “if it bleeds, we can kill it” in light of Euroa’s simply sensational past three months of netball.
Meanwhile, Shepparton’s second term was about stopping any runs, remaining defensively alert and, most importantly, keeping the round thing far away from Morris’ grasp.
Euroa, to its credit, kept swinging, clawing back the margin to five at the half, but never led.
By three-quarter time the Bears had opened it back up to 47-39 and, though the Magpies showed glimpses of a potential come-from-behind spoil, Borger was able to steady the ship.
Eliza Bicknell — suiting up for her 100th club game — played a hand in restricting Euroa to nine fourth-quarter goals, helping suffocate the Magpies’ usually fluent midcourt delivery.
Ironically, the other centurion on court — Euroa centre Hollie Reid, playing her 100th GVL game — had fewer reasons to celebrate, despite working tirelessly to drag her side into the contest alongside Sami Kreltszheim and Kellie Davidson.
The result breaks Euroa’s remarkable 15-game winning streak and hands Shepparton clear top billing — four points ahead with a healthy percentage and a growing sense of belief.
Around the courts, the race to see which side will clinch sixth place has hotted up following Shepparton Swans’ loss to Seymour.
A depleted Swans side almost pulled off a major upset, downed 51-49 after leading by a goal late on due to an 11th-hour scoring barrage from star shooter Ellie Fuhrmeister.
The Swans occupy sixth on percentage alone with Shepparton United and Echuca also sitting on 24 points.
United sailed past Mansfield 64-27, while Tatura made similarly light work of Kyabram, winning 60-23.
4°C