Hannah O'Meara flicks a pass.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
With the first half of the Murray Netball League season in the books, the top five clubs have opened a two-game buffer on those below.
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Congupna, one game outside the top six and looking for a big scalp, welcomed third-placed Mulwala in round nine.
Up against a highly-fancied Lions, The Road had no issue keeping step with, going goal-for-goal in the first quarter to trail by one.
Mulwala opened a 10-goal buffer at half-time, but Congupna had shown its best netball could match its opposition in a game that had the potential to go the distance.
But Mulwala proved its contender status, unleashing a barrage of 26 second-half goals to Congupna's 12, securing a commanding 56-32 victory.
Elsewhere, Nathalia continued its purple patch to shape as reigning premier Rumbalara’s biggest A-grade flag challenger.
But if you had suggested to Nathalia coach Tracey Brereton pre-season the Purples would be sitting second with one defeat, it would have been met with some scepticism.
A surprising assessment given their standing as one of the best defensive units in the league and given the calibre of the players running around on court.
The A-grade contenders have proven themselves a formidable force, concluding the season's first half with an impressive 59-28 triumph over Tongala.
The Purples netted 18 first-quarter goals to set up their eighth victory of the season, the margin failing to fall below 10 goals at each break.
Ash Cann, Laura Cole and Aimee Sidebottom were the leaders for Nathalia.
“Obviously, playing them at Tonny, it's really difficult to win over there,” Brereton said.
“We went in there knowing that we're going to have some challenges and we also had some challenges with some injury bits and pieces.
“But the way the girls played in the first quarter I think really set the game up for us.
“If you had of told me we would have been sitting second halfway through (the season) and only dropped one game off, I might not have believed you.
“But I think we’ve recruited the right people in the off-season to the club and filled a few voids that we were missing.”
Around the courts, ladder leader Rumbalara outlasted a gallant Numurkah 53-39, keeping its unblemished run intact.
Moama notched an 11-goal win over Echuca United to keep a grip on fourth spot, while Deniliquin scored back-to-back victories with a 61-52 triumph over rival Finley.
Meanwhile, Cobram spun a quarter-time deficit into its first win of the season, getting on the board in 2025 with a nine-goal result against Barooga.
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