Sport

Murray Bombers tally huge victory over Bombers to surge back into finals frame

By Oliver Shedden

Aug 17, 2025

Stephanie Vick and Echuca dominated Jemma Hall and Kyabram to sneak back into finals contention with one round to go. Photos: Jordan Townrow

Echuca may scrape into the finals after all with a much-needed dominant victory over Kyabram in round 17 of Goulburn Valley League netball.

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The objective was clear at Victoria Park: beat a struggling Bombers by as much as possible, and the Murray Bombers did just that.

However, it was close going in the first quarter with Kyabram coming out hot, finding the net seven times.

Madeline O'Nial finds her target. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Echuca managed to stay a couple of steps ahead, tallying 11 goals to create steady separation at quarter-time.

The Murray Bombers broke the game open in the second period, piling on 21 goals while stemming Kyabram’s flow to eight to create an almost irrecoverable chasm at the major break.

Ashlea Hare locks in. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Attacking got harder for the Bombers as the game wore on, with the visitor finding six goals in the third period, while the Murray Bombers were at their free flowing best, adding 17 more.

A 23-goal fourth-quarter performance was the icing on the cake for Echuca, cruising past a Kyabram outfit that could only manage eight goals down the stretch.

Kylie Walker settles under the high ball. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Echuca’s young star goal shooter Rose Byrne was in full flight against the Bombers, tallying 56 goals.

The 72-29 thrashing has catapulted Echuca back into sixth spot, with a tough final game on the horizon against Mooroopna to close out the regular season.

Rose Byrne goes for goal. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

If the Murray Bombers were to beat Mooroopna, they would lock in the last finals position, losing would put them in danger of getting passed by Shepparton United, which would need to beat defending champion and second-placed Euroa to snatch a finals berth.