Tongala moved up to third on the Murray Netball League table by thrashing Numurkah.
Only one local side recorded a victory across round 14 of Murray Netball League, with Tongala proving too strong for Numurkah, while Moama and Echuca United fell to heavy defeats.
Tongala v Numurkah
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Tongala helped cement its place in the finals spots with a dominant 39-goal win over Numurkah at Tongala Recreation Reserve.
The host made a solid start, racing out to a 12-4 lead after 11 minutes, which resulted in a decent 15-8 buffer at the first interval.
An unanswered seven-goal burst between the 23rd and 26th minutes boosted Tongala’s lead into the teens as it posted a strong attacking period in the second quarter, scoring 22 times.
Leading 37-17 at half-time, Abby Pettifer’s side didn’t rest on its laurels to start the second half, opening the third quarter by netting 13 of 16 goals, with Numurkah held to five in the period, its lowest output of the day.
Tongala led 53-22 heading into the final period with its four points wrapped up, but still closed strongly, winning all four quarters by outscoring Numurkah 17-9 across the last 15 minutes.
The 70-31 win moved Tonny above Moama and into third on the ladder on percentage, the two sides level on 36 points, with the Magpies still holding a game in hand.
More importantly, Tongala is now 14 points clear of seventh-placed Numurkah, with its place in the post-season now all but confirmed.
After consecutive home matches, Pettifer’s team is back on the road to take on Echuca United in round 15.
Mulwala v Moama
Moama fell to defeat for the first time in more than two months with a heavy loss at Mulwala.
Moama’s run of seven straight wins in the competition came to an end at the hands of Mulwala, the Lions prevailing by 34 goals at Lonsdale Recreation Reserve.
The Magpies made a competitive start against the league leader, the two sides trading 20 goals in the opening period as Mulwala took a 13-7 lead into the first interval.
After 19 minutes, Moama only trailed 14-10, but the Lions found another gear to start clawing themselves away.
Mulwala first went on a run of five straight goals, following it with eight in a row just before half-time to open up a comfortable 29-14 advantage at the main break.
The host would only gradually increase its lead in the second half.
Moama was held to six goals in the third quarter, its lowest output of the day, as Mulwala posted its best attacking period with 17, leading 46-20 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Despite the Magpies having their best attacking quarter in the fourth with eight goals, the margin still ballooned out beyond 30 as they couldn’t slow down the Lions at the other end.
Another 16 goals for Mulwala in the final period resulted in a comfortable 62-28 victory and Moama’s heaviest defeat in 2026.
Jinaya Nurse (15) and Indiana Phillips (13) were the two goal scorers for Carri Carter’s side, which dropped to fourth on the ladder with the loss.
Moama will be favoured to beat lowly Congupna in its next outing before it travels to Tongala on July 25, the winner of that clash putting itself in a strong position to finish third.
Rumbalara v Echuca United
Echuca United was competitive for periods, but couldn’t keep up with Rumbalara.
Echuca United’s purple patch of form hit a dead-end against Rumbalara, the Eagles falling to a 23-goal loss at Mercury Drive Shepparton.
Leesa Hooppell’s side made a solid start in the opening period, as it only trailed favoured Rumba 14-9 at the first interval.
Rumba edged the second quarter 15-11 to take a 29-20 lead into half-time, the Eagles still very much in the contest as they aimed for a third straight win.
But the hosts, who last week handed unbeaten Nathalia its first loss, flexed their muscles in the third period to take full control of the contest.
Rumba won the quarter 20-8, producing its best attacking quarter of the day while holding the Eagles to their worst.
Echuca United was consigned to defeat heading into the final period, down 49-28, but finished strongly, only losing the fourth quarter 14-12.
The 63-40 loss was only the Eagles’ second across their past five matches.
Echuca United is currently eighth, with a finals run this year not possible, but it has improved across the season.
Hooppell’s young team will look to return to the winners’ list when it faces Tongala next.
