Rumbalara is the latest club fighting its demons off the back of a Shepparton United drubbing.
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While Rumbalara’s position in this year’s Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls League finals campaign is all but sewn up, there is a discernible difference between the top two sides, Shepparton United and Echuca, and the rest.
The Demons continued to prove that rhetoric correct on Sunday, with a ruthless first half the catalyst for a thrashing victory.
Rumba was held scoreless in the opening term as Shepparton United drew first blood with five goals early to bounce out to a 32-point quarter-time lead.
Although Rumbalara notched its first goal and behind in the second term, it didn’t prevent another blitz by the Demons, which once again tallied five majors to establish a 58-point half-time buffer.
“The girls were running well and supporting each other,” Shepparton United coach Grant Searle said.
“We were able to just keep to our game plan and caught them on the hop.”
Injuries left both sides down on numbers in the second half, resulting in fatigued output on the scoreboard.
Matching the Demons around the ground, Rumba were able to restrict the ladder-leaders to two second-half goals, but were unable to dig into the deficit, scoring two second half goals as well.
While it was an overall improved effort with reduced numbers, the damage had been done, with the Demons securing their 11th win of 2025 by 59 points.
Forward pairing Paige Baksh and Charlotte Artavilla-Bennett collected a haul of five each, combining for 10 of Shepparton United’s 12 goals.
Artavilla-Bennett used her forward craft to near perfection, but it was Baksh who dazzled across the game with individual brilliance, recording the handful of majors despite not playing as a permanent forward.
“Charlotte was rewarded from good delivery inside 50, but Paige plays all across the ground,” Searle said.
“She was able to play her own game and capitalise on her running into the forward line.”
Following Shepparton United’s win and a standalone fixture last week against Mansfield, the Demons have edged ahead of Echuca to sit atop the ladder with an unbeaten record of 11 wins and zero losses.
The Demons defeated the Eagles in a much closer encounter than their Rumba battle, overcoming an eight-point three-quarter time deficit to win by 11.
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Shepparton United’s Paige Baksh celebrates one of her five goals. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 10
Shepparton United's Melissa Foster wraps up Rumbalara's Nerrissa Leitch. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 10
Rumbalara's Shar Cooper out in space. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 10
Shepparton United's Paige Baksh slots another. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 10
Shepparton United's Atong Dang listens in at the quarter-time huddle. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 10
Shepparton United's Molly Kennedy sidesteps a tackle from Rumbalara's Tammy-Lee Atkinson. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 10
Rumbalara's Frances Atkinson thumps the pigskin. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 10
Rumbalara's Dakoda Carpio and Shepparton United's Atong Dang leap for the tap. Photo by Megan FisherImage 9 of 10
Shepparton United's Ella Henery takes a bounce. Photo by Megan FisherImage 10 of 10
Shepparton United’s Paige Baksh and Charlotte Artavilla-Bennett kicked a bag each. Photo by Megan FisherAcross round 13’s fixtures, Echuca dealt Barooga a brutal loss to the tune of 118 points, as the Hawks went scoreless for the match.
Meanwhile, Mansfield has leapfrogged Nathalia to insert itself into finals calculations after defeating the Purples by 24 points.
Both sides entered the contest squared on premiership points, but with a weaker percentage the Eagles, who have a final round bye, needed to win to keep their finals aspirations alive.
In the youth girls results, Shepparton United pipped the Swans by four points, while Moama and Echuca United held their respective opponents Barooga and Nathalia scoreless.
The Magpies won by 99, while the Eagles claimed a 48-point victory.
Round 13’s women’s results set up an enthralling final round of action this weekend, with each match to have ladder-changing implications.
A top-of-the-table, early finals preview between Shepparton United and Echuca headlines round 14, with the winner set to earn claim to the minor premiership.
While the Demons are ahead on premiership points, Echuca’s greater percentage means a win to the Murray Bombers on Saturday will have them finish the season on top.
“Next week’s going to be our toughest game, there’s no doubt about it,” Searle said.
“We would like to go through the season undefeated, but we have a few unavailabilities next week.
“It’ll be a tough contest, but hopefully we can go to Echuca and get a win.”
If Nathalia is to play finals it must defeat third-placed Rumbalara on Sunday.
Following the weekend’s loss to Mansfield, the Purples are outside the top four on premiership points, but similarly to Echuca, they boast a greater percentage than the club above them.
With Mansfield having a bye, the Eagles can’t do anything but watch and pray that Rumbalara staves off a purple parade, or otherwise their round 13 triumph will be rendered meaningless.
Additionally, Tatura and Barooga face off in the spoonbowl.
While the Bulldogs have not won a game all year, Barooga’s only win arrived against Tatura in round six by a mere eight points.
Should the Dogs claim a win in the final round of the season, there is a chance they overtake the Hawks on the ladder and avoid claim to the wooden spoon.