Nagambie has bounced back into winning form in the Kyabram District League senior football competition, recording a big win at the weekend, while Avenel and Longwood went down in closely contested affairs.
The Lakers entered their round 11 clash against Girgarre with a point to prove, having suffered a heavy loss against Lancaster in round 10, and wasted no time in hitting the scoreboard, slamming home 6.4 in the first term to just two goals from the Roos to lead by 24 points at the first break.
Another five majors followed in the second term, however Girgarre showed plenty of fight to boot five of its own, losing the term by just a point to enter the sheds at half-time 25 points in arrears.
But Nagambie took control of the contest at Girgarre Recreation Reserve as the two sides emerged after the break, restricting the home side to a solitary goal in the third term while making the most of its dominant period, extending its lead out to 49 points by three-quarter time.
A five-goal-to-three final term ensured Nagambie claimed the win 21.11 (137) to 11.10 (76), a much-needed boost following last weekend’s loss, with Tom Barnes named best-on-ground with a five-goal display.
While Nagambie finds itself back in the winners’ column, it was a tough weekend for Avenel, falling to a resurgent Stanhope side by 18 points at Stanhope Recreation Reserve.
The Swans got off to a solid start, leading by five points at quarter-time after a 4.1 to 3.2 opening term, and managed to hold on to their narrow advantage at half-time following a hard-fought second term, although it was trimmed back to three points.
While the scoreboard read 45 to 42 in favour of Avenel at half-time, the visitor was soon left in the dust, as Stanhope roared to the front courtesy of a five-goal-to-one third term, opening up a 25-point advantage at three-quarter time and leaving the Swans with a mountain to climb in the last.
Avenel managed to win the quarter, however it was unable to overcome the deficit, going down 11.7 (73) to 13.13 (91). Tim Dundon was named the Swans’ best in the loss, with Nicholas Goodwin kicking a team-high three goals for the game.
It was a similar story for Longwood in its clash with Violet Town, with the Redlegs storming out of the blocks but being overrun to go down by 18 points.
Fresh off a stirring win over Shepparton East in round 10, the Redlegs looked like they were set for another commanding performance, booting five goals in the first term to establish a 14-point lead by quarter-time.
But Violet Town rallied in the second term with a five-goal-to-three quarter of its own, levelling the scores at 53-apiece at the main break.
The Towners continued to surge ahead after half-time, forging ahead at a pace Longwood was unable to match and opening up an 18-point gap by three-quarter time, the same margin as at the full-time siren, with Longwood on the wrong end of the 15.7 (97) to 18.7 (115) result.
Elsewhere, Tallygaroopna added to Merrigum’s woes, securing a 16.7 (103) to 8.8 (56) victory on the road to keep the Bulldogs winless through 11 games despite the efforts of Darcy Collins, who booted a game-high six goals in a losing side.
Lancaster was at its devastating best, decimating Undera in a 24.20 (164) to 5.7 (37) victory, with Steven Grima booting six in the big win and skipper Charlie McLay leading from the front in a best-on-ground display.
Shepparton East proved too strong for Rushworth, securing a 9.12 (66) to 5.6 (36) victory in a low-scoring affair, with Jordan Gattuso the Eagles’ best, while reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba had the bye.
Netball
Round 11 of Kyabram District League A-grade netball had a pair of heavyweight clashes, with the top four playing off against each other on a weekend which may have made the finals picture a whole lot clearer.
In a first-versus-third battle at Central Park Recreation Reserve, ladder-leader Shepparton East took on surprise packet Rushworth, which has risen from a winless season last year to sit comfortably among the top sides past the halfway point of 2025.
The match was an intriguing prospect in the lead-up, but the Eagles made it a rather anticlimactic affair, showing all of the prowess one would expect from a side sitting pretty at 10-0 for the season with a resounding 54-28 victory.
Rushworth, which slips to 8-2 following the loss, was powerless to stop the onslaught, and it is getting harder and harder to see anyone stopping the Eagles juggernaut this season.
But in the other top four clash, Nagambie may have staked its claim as the top challenger to the Eagles.
Taking on 2024 premier Girgarre, the Lakers delivered a 48-43 win away from home, extending their unbeaten run to nine games, their only loss for the year coming in round one against Violet Town.
That loss is beginning to look like an outlier for second-placed Nagambie, which has rarely been troubled since, having only won by less than 10 goals on two occasions, including Saturday’s win over the Roos.
While the result puts the Lakers in prime position to challenge Shepp East at the top, it is a sobering loss for Girgarre, with the reigning premier having now fallen victim to each of the three sides above it.
The Roos (7-3) are now three games back from top spot, and even two back from Nagambie in second, and appear to have fallen down the pecking order. But premierships aren’t handed out in June and there is still plenty to play out between now and that one day in September.
In other results, Avenel and Tallygaroopna each shored up their spot inside the top six, improving to 6-4 following wins in round 11.
The Swans keep hold of fifth after accounting for Stanhope 54-39 away from home, while Tallygaroopna gave itself some breathing room in sixth, beating Merrigum 34-29 to move two games clear of Murchison-Toolamba in seventh.
Undera continued 2024 runner-up Lancaster’s torrid season, claiming a 38-36 win at Lancaster Recreation Reserve, while Violet Town returned to the winners’ list with a 42-33 triumph over winless Longwood.