Sport
Congupna earns its second win of Murray Netball League campaign during split round action
Congupna is back on the road to redemption in Murray Netball League.
Wendy Sidebottom’s charges never faltered during a comprehensive showing over Cobram at Memorial Oval, walking off the court 30-goal winners to even the ledger to 2-2 after four rounds.
A green Tigers unit was at the mercy of a vastly more experienced Road side, and the writing was on the wall as early as the first quarter.
Congupna restricted Cobram to four goals by the first rest period while drilling 11 of its own as the host’s bastions kept things tight in the defensive arc.
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Gathering: Cobram’s Emily Thompson. Photo by Holly DanielImage 2 of 7
Seeking help.: Congupna’s Rhylee Merkesteyn. Photo by Holly DanielImage 3 of 7
Lob it up: Congupna’s Rhylee Merkesteyn. Photo by Holly DanielImage 4 of 7
Outstretched: Cobram’s Emily Thompson. Photo by Holly DanielImage 5 of 7
String puller: Congupna’s Morgan Zotti. Photo by Holly DanielImage 6 of 7
Give and go: Cobram’s Olivia Thompson. Photo by Holly DanielImage 7 of 7
Angling in: Congupna’s Gemma Boyd. Photo by Holly DanielThe Tigers were limited to a pair of six-goal quarters through the middle of the game as The Road kept chipping away under the ring and the final term proved to be the most free-flowing as 25 combined goals swished through to have the final score read 52-22.
Saturday’s split round triumph is crucial for Congupna considering the context.
The Road eyes off Nathalia and Finley after a weekend’s rest and, with the Purples and Cats occupying spots above it on the ladder, banking points against Cobram was a needed confidence booster for Congupna.
However, confidence is something Rumbalara has in spades right now.
Jess Bamblett’s side made it rain with four straight 14-plus goal quarters against a spooked Echuca United to sit pretty atop the ladder on 16 points.
The Mercury Dve tenants are likely to be joined by 2023 premiership Tongala after it takes on winless Barooga in the other half of the round, and the round six date between the Blues and Rumba has been circled as ‘do not miss’ on the fixture list.
Rumbalara’s 64-32 win over Echuca United was night and day to Moama’s, though.
The Magpies mustered a magnificent 15-goal showing after three-quarter time to tank Finley’s plans of a comeback victory, landing Moama in third spot on the table.
Magpies coach Liv Taverna was thrilled with the win, which came despite a number of changes having to be made to her side.
“We had three out this week, so it was a completely new team that we had in, and we had some juniors step up and play which was good,” she said.
“So yeah, (the match was) a bit tight, and then we sort of started to find our groove and then crept away from them a little bit, which was good.”