Rumbalara's Jessie Barnes-Hill looks for an option in the goal circle.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
If there was ever a game for the Eagles to have landed their finals credentials, a boilover against Rumbalara would have certainly been the game to do so.
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But, Rumba did what it has done all season long and, now, the eagle is extinct.
Echuca United’s finals hopes were officially extinguished on Saturday after suffering a 57-30 loss to the Murray Netball League’s ladder-leaders, succumbing to a slick Rumba outfit unwavering in its premiership defence.
The win, off the back of strong goal shooting performances from Jessie Barnes-Hill and Sophie Atkinson, is Rumbalara’s 16th on the trot in 2025, remaining a game clear of second-placed Nathalia.
It was a day to celebrate for Rumba, with the outcome a positive result for milestone netballer Tiarna Steel, notching a victory in game 50 for the club.
Echuca United is now two games off the pace of a top-six spot and, with sixth and seventh-placed sides Moama and Numurkah to face off in round 18, it means not even a miracle fortnight with results in its favour can salvage its September aspirations.
Rumbalara's Jessie Barnes-Hill looks for an option in the goal circle.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Rumbalara's Jessie Barnes-Hill and Echuca United's Coby Morgan tussle for position.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Rumbalara's Sophie Atkinson receives a pass in shooting range.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Rumbalara's B Grade Christina Ponting celebrated 300 games and A Grade Tiarna Steel celebrated 50 games.
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Echuca United's Aisha Railton contests a Rumbalara shot on goal.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Rumbalara's Jessie Barnes-Hill catches a looping pass.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Echuca United's Chloe Moyle fires a darting chest pass.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
In the latter week of the league’s split round 16, two other fixtures took place at the weekend, with Finley taking on Mulwala and Numurkah battling Barooga.
Although the home side holds a polar opposite record of 1-15 compared to third-placed Mulwala’s 12-4, the Cats still scratched together a plucky effort against one of the competition’s top sides.
Finley fell short by 15 goals, 56-41, with the Lions’ win locking in a top-three finish.
Numurkah recorded a similar result over the two-win Hawks, with its 16-goal win keeping finals hopes alive.
Outside of the top-six by percentage, should Numurkah beat Finley in round 17, its fate will be decided against the Magpies in the final round of the season.
