A-grade: Deni Rovers 25 def by Katandra 28.
Things didn’t go according to plan when Deniliquin Rovers A-grade faced Katandra in the grand final, going down 25-28 in a gripping contest.
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Katandra set the tone from the first whistle, starting strongly and applying relentless pressure.
Their defensive intensity forced uncharacteristic errors from the usually composed Rovers and made goals hard to come by, disrupting their trademark fluency.
Scores stayed tight through the middle periods, with the Rovers’ defenders working tirelessly to keep their side in touch.
Katandra, however, continued to find a way to the post and maintained a narrow edge.
A serious injury to key shooter and playing coach Carissa Bulmer early in the final quarter looked like it might end the contest, but the Rovers rallied with courage and composure.
Lifting their intensity, they produced some of their best passages of play to stay in the fight and keep the outcome in doubt until the closing minutes.
Despite the brave surge, Katandra’s sustained pressure and ability to capitalise on turnovers ultimately secured the win and ended Rovers’ bold bid for a remarkable premiership three-peat.
Katandra has been on the ascent for years, and on Saturday at Deniliquin Memorial Park they clawed their way to the summit at last.
It was a Picola District Netball League A-grade decider that lived up to its billing and then some.
B-grade: Deni Rovers 36 def Tocumwal 30.
Deniliquin Rovers B-grade capped off a hard-fought season with a fairytale ending, claiming the premiership after a convincing win over Tocumwal.
The Rovers were all heart from the outset, matching their determined opponents goal for goal in a tense opening where every score was hard won.
A decisive shift came when Ruby Cowley came off the bench into goal shooter, and seized control of the circle.
Her remarkable accuracy unsettled the Tocumwal defence and lifted the entire Rovers line-up, providing the spark that broke the deadlock.
Best on Court honours went to Lainey Blake in goal attack, who combined seamlessly with Brittany Edwards and Cowley to keep the scoreboard moving.
Mid-court pressure from Sienna Jenkins, Phoebe Jefferies and Bae Willis set up repeated scoring opportunities, while Erika Martin, Sophie Dudley and Bell McIlwain applied fast hands and punishing pressure in defence.
Anchoring the back line, Georgia McCulloch displayed her trademark grit and composure.
With growing confidence and cohesion, the Rovers powered home to secure the premiership, a fitting reward for their resilience, self-belief and unwavering team spirit throughout the season.
The victory was made even more special as a perfect retirement present for long-serving coach Tim Van Lieshout, whose leadership and dedication have been central to the team’s success.
C-grade: Deni Rovers 33 def by Katunga 52.
Katunga’s C-grade side has stamped itself as one of Picola District Netball League’s most reliable September forces, toppling Deniliquin Rovers 33 at Deniliquin Memorial Park to claim a second straight premiership on Saturday.
With a line-up dripping in experience, Katunga simply had too much composure and firepower for the Rovers.
In scorching conditions more familiar to February than early spring, the Swans’ blend of mature heads and rising talent never looked seriously threatened after a blistering start.
By quarter-time the Swans were already strutting, the scoreboard read 11-6 in the red and white’s favour.
Precise ball movement, clever rotations to deal with the heat and a relentless defensive wall pushed the margin out to 22-15 at half-time.
The buffer stayed at double figures in the third term as Katunga’s defensive end denied Deni’s shooters any easy looks, stretching the score to 38-26 at the last change.
Even when the Rovers began the final quarter with a flicker of resistance, the Swans simply upped the tempo.
Under-17s: Deni Rovers 44 def Berrigan 35.
The under-17s capped off their outstanding season with a hard-fought 44-35 grand final victory over Berrigan at Memorial Park on Saturday.
Having finished on top of the ladder after the home and away season, the Rovers entered the match as favourites, but Berrigan – who came into the decider from third position – showed they were more than worthy opponents.
From the outset, the game was a tight contest, with both sides lifting their intensity for the big occasion.
The Rovers showed passion and persistence throughout the entire game, using strategic positioning and precise passing that they had been refining all year.
Their stamina proved decisive, both defensively and in attack, allowing them to maintain possession and capitalise on intercepts.
Berrigan applied strong pressure, making it a challenging contest, but the Rovers’ focus and mentality set them apart.
Defensively, the team worked tirelessly to disrupt Berrigan’s flow, while the mid-court controlled the tempo and transitioned the ball efficiently into attack.
Shooters remained composed under pressure, converting consistently to build and maintain the lead.
Amy Holloway had a standout performance, earning Best on Court honours for her crucial intercepts and ability to create space for her teammates to score.
Every player – Amy Holloway, Eve Meharry, Isabell Macknight, Lilly Boyer, Lucy Herberte, Ruby Cowley, Ruby Pisasale, Sienna Elphick, and Bae Willis – played a vital role in the victory, combining skill, effort, and teamwork to secure the premiership.
Coach Chloe Way was full of praise for her side, acknowledging their hard work, discipline, and strong team spirit, and also congratulated Berrigan on a spirited and competitive game.
Under-15s: Deni Rovers 45 def Jerilderie 33.
The under-15s netballers capped off a remarkable year with a grand final victory over Jerilderie on Saturday at Memorial Park, securing the premiership and completing an undefeated season.
From the first whistle, the girls played with intent and trust in each other.
Their teamwork and composure were evident throughout the match, setting the tone for a dominant performance.
Shooters Ava Braybon and Lilly Boyer were in stellar form, complementing each other in the goal ring and converting with incredible accuracy.
Amelie Bulmer, Marlie Mison, and Jorja Woolston were steadfast through the mid-court, feeding the shooters with precision and keeping the tempo fast and fluid.
In defence, Stella McBurnie, Zoe Basset, Nina Glowrey, and Georgia Danckert created chaos for the Jerilderie attack.
Their strength, pressure, and rebounding disrupted Jerilderie’s flow and allowed the Rovers to drive the ball confidently into attack.
Despite the Rovers’ dominance, Jerilderie made it a challenging contest, testing the Rovers at every turn and earning respect for their tenacity and skill.
All nine players – Amelie Bulmer, Zoe Basset, Jorja Woolston, Georgia Danckert, Lilly Boyer, Marlie Mison, Nina Glowrey, Stella McBurnie, and Ava Braybon – contributed to the win, with each playing their role to perfection.
Ava Braybon was awarded Best on Court by the umpires, recognising her outstanding performance in the grand final.
Under-13s: Deni Rovers 16 def by Blighty 22.
The Deniliquin Rovers Under 13s netballers capped off a terrific season with a gallant performance in Saturday’s grand final at Memorial Park, going down in what was an exciting and hard-fought contest.
From the opening whistle, the young Rovers showed they were ready for the big stage.
With strong defensive pressure and quick ball movement through the mid-court, the girls kept themselves well in the hunt.
By half-time, the margin was just one goal, with the home crowd on the edge of their seats as both sides traded intercepts and clean passages of play.
The third quarter was a true tussle, with our shooters working hard under pressure and our defenders continually forcing turnovers to keep the game in the balance.
Heading into the final break, the scores were locked, and the atmosphere was electric.
Unfortunately, Blighty found another gear in the last quarter.
The final scoreline didn’t reflect just how close and competitive the match was for three quarters.
Isabella Goodear, Isabelle Didcock, Indi Conallin, Sophie Bulmer, Lara Redden, Madison Danckert, Madeline Woolston, Khoa Unwin and Meg Meharry have all worked tirelessly all season, showing determination, skill, and above all, teamwork.