Pigeons edge out Hoppers in nailbiter

Yarrawonga 41 def North Albury 40

Yarrawonga’s A Grade netballers have held off a fast-finishing North Albury outfit in a thrilling contest, claiming victory by the narrowest of margins in a match that could have gone either way.

With the mid-season return of mid-court star Emily Browne, North Albury looked a far more dynamic and confident team than the side Yarrawonga comfortably defeated in round seven.

Browne’s presence injected pace and composure into the Hoppers' game, forcing the Pigeons to dig deep.

The momentum swung back and forth throughout the match, with Yarrawonga working hard to edge ahead at key moments, only for the Hoppers to repeatedly claw their way back.

The scoreboard rarely saw more than a few goals separating the two sides.

Midcourt duo Laura Davis and Laura Irvine were outstanding for the Pigeons, delivering consistency and control through the centre third.

In defence, Hannah Symes adapted cleverly to nullify the impact of North Albury’s main shooting target.

Veteran Kylie Tyrrel made her presence felt after entering the game at goal defence at half time, taking several classic intercepts to halt the Hoppers’ advances.

The return of Kaleisha Pell in the second half, fresh from an extended overseas break, provided a timely boost in attack.

Pell was in fine form, scoring 18 of Yarrawonga’s 41 goals to help secure the hard-fought win.

Every player in the Pigeon lineup was able to maintain composure despite intense pressure from the Hoppers to contribute to the win.

After a string of more comfortable victories in recent weeks, this close contest offered the Pigeons valuable preparation for the pressure and intensity of finals netball.

With just two rounds remaining, the battle for top three positioning remains fierce—only two wins separate first and fourth place, setting up an exciting finish to the regular season.

Best: Laura Davis and Hannah Symes.

B Grade

Yarrawonga 37 def by North Albury 43

It was a thrilling clash between second and third on the ladder, in the lead-up to finals, this game lived up to the hype.

From the first whistle, it was neck-and-neck, with both sides refusing to give an inch. B Grade’s defensive pressure was outstanding across the entire court, forcing turnovers and keeping the opposition on their toes.

Every player dug deep, and the scoreboard stayed tight right until the last quarter.

In the end, the Pigeons went down by only five goals but the fight, teamwork, and determination shown was a true credit to the whole team.

Best: Jackie Oswald and Grace Stillard.

C Grade

Yarrawonga 54 def North Albury 18

This week, Yarrawonga Pigeon’s C Grade team put in a fantastic effort to secure a 24-goal win against North Albury.

From the defensive end through to attack, the team showed excellent teamwork, communication, and energy throughout the game.

Mia earned the coaches award for her strong performance in the midcourt, while Grace received the players’ player award for her commitment and drive in the goal circle.

It was a solid team effort and a result the whole team can be proud of in the lead up to finals.

Best: Grace Eales and Mia Wheaton.

Under 17s

Yarrawonga 47 drew with North Albury 47

Last week the Yarrawonga Under 17s eagerly took to the court against North Albury.

The sun was shining and blue skies made it a perfect day for netball and a very enjoyable game to watch.

It was a tightly contested match, going goal-for-goal across all four quarters.

Sophie and Kendall worked brilliantly together, showcasing strong shooter-to-shooter connections, and were well supported by Makayla from the Under 15s.

Their teamwork kept the scoreboard ticking over under intense pressure.

The midcourt unit played a crucial role, converting centre passes into scoring opportunities while applying strong defensive pressure to help create turnovers.

The defenders worked tirelessly, creating opportunities and consistently challenging North Albury’s attack end.

With the game coming down to the wire, Sophie Coghill held her nerve to score the equalising goal just before the final siren, resulting in a well-earned draw.

North Albury provided a tough and high-pressure contest, making for an exciting and hard-fought game from both sides.

Best: Sophie Coghill and Miley Driscoll.

Under 15s

Yarrawonga 35 drew with North Albury 35

A great game from the Under 15's last weekend.

The side entered the match against North Albury with a couple of girls down, which didn’t stop them from playing a great game.

Despite trailing all game, the Under 15’s were able to chip away and come out with a draw.

The defence worked tirelessly all game to minimise scoring from the opposition by taking plenty of intercepts and creating stoppages.

The mid-court and attack gelled seamlessly and used strong communication, something which has been a focus for the Under 15’s of late.

The girls did a great job of it, which made passing and driving easy for everyone.

The girls fight back was awesome, which the coaches were extremely proud of.

Best: Winnie Heffernan and Chloe Liddell.