Sport

Bombers survive OT thriller

By Matthew Kappos

Sep 5, 2026

Lilli McGillivray was best on court for Leitchville-Gunbower, here she is contesting Emily Coonerty’s shot. Photos: Jordan Townrow.

An extra period was needed to resolve the 13-and-under netball decider on Heathcote District League grand final day.

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After giving up a significant lead in the fourth quarter, Leitchville-Gunbower regrouped and held its nerve in the additional 10 minutes to grab the premiership 26-24 over Lockington-Bamawm United.

With the weather lifting shortly before the first whistle, the surface was still wet, leading to a low-scoring first term.

Leitchville-Gunbower took the 13-and-under flag after a thrilling extra time period. Photo: Matthew Kappos.

The Cats had a few small leads in the first and second periods, but shortly before halftime the Bombers started to make their move, breaking to a 12-9 lead at the main break.

Leitchville continued to build through the third, up five at the last change, and led by as many as seven midway through the final quarter before Lockington reeled off a desperate late run to tie the game at 21-all at the end of regulation.

The Cats had all the momentum headed into the extra period and scored the first goal of the additional minutes, but ultimately it was the Bombers’ day as they surged back ahead and won by two goals.

Dotti Simmonds watches the ball out of play as Marli Bloomfield tries to save.

After giving up a significant lead late, Leitchville could easily have lost heart, but coach Cara Pretty said the girls didn’t require much of a lift as they went into the overtime period.

“(I) basically just told them to take a few big deep breaths,” she said.

“They've done it before in the semi-final, they came back from around eight down, so we knew they could do it, and they knew they could do it.

“It's just about resetting and getting back to basics and they were able to do it.”

Captain and defender Lilli McGillivray earned best on court honours for the Bombers.

“Lil's incredible,” Pretty said.

“Every training she works really, really hard and she takes feedback and she works on it and she goes out there every week and gives it her best.

“She’s really matured this year, she’s taken on our captain role and I just knew at training the last few weeks she was hungry for it and she really wanted it.”