Netball
5 August, 2025
Buzzer-beater gifts Rupanyup win
Some clutch plays from Rupanyup, including an after-the-siren goal from Ilze Van Zyl, made the difference as the Panthers’ A grade netball side defeated Edenhope Apsley 47-46 in a thriller on Saturday.
Some clutch plays from Rupanyup, including an after-the-siren goal from Ilze Van Zyl, made the difference as the Panthers’ A grade netball side defeated Edenhope Apsley 47-46 in a thriller on Saturday.
In what was a case for the game of the year, little separated the sides, with multiple lead changes throughout the game.
Some key steals from Rupanyup’s Victoria Taylor in the final minutes proved pivotal, with youngster Van Zyl nailing the after-buzzer shot after receiving a pass with seconds to go.
Entering as favourites at home, Rupanyup demonstrated their fast-paced style early on but were matched by Edenhope Apsley, the Panthers leading 10-9 at the first break.
The goal-circle chemistry between Edenhope’s Dee Dee Lambert and Lavinia Fox was on show in the second quarter, with the Saints racing to a 16-11 lead, before Rupanyup’s own shooting combinations helped bring the deficit to two at half-time (22-20).
Rupanyup’s defensive pressure forced numerous Edenhope turnovers in the third as the home side regained the lead and entered the final term up 34-31.
The Saints fired right back early in the fourth, with precision passing and near-perfect shooting from Lambert igniting a 12-5 run which gave the visitors a four-goal lead with just over five minutes to play.
But the Panthers demonstrated why they are the number one team in the competition, forcing turnovers while delivering in the goal circle before Taylor and Van Zyl’s heroics in the final minute.
Bianca Drum led Rupanyup with 20 goals, while Lambert converted 30 of her goal attempts for Edenhope Apsley.
Rupanyup player-coach Georgia Hiscock credited her side’s confidence in each other as helping deliver the comeback late in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve been in the position where we’ve been down by two or three goals at half-time before,” Hiscock said.
“We just know to remain composed, back each other and just have that belief in each other that we know we can build it back and get those intercepts, because a four- or five-goal turnaround is two intercepts.
With defensive intensity on show from both teams, Hiscock praised Edenhope Apsley for forcing more errors from her side.
“Defensively we were strong across the board but we probably threw it into hands and made a lot more turnovers than we usually would purely because of their pressure as well,” Hiscock said.
“They covered us beautifully across the court so it was nice to play a team that probably equally puts that pressure on down the court as we do, which made for a really strong contested game."
Asked about Van Zyl’s final shot, Hiscock highlighted the youngster’s vast improvement throughout the season.
“Incredibly proud of Ilze,” Hiscock said.
“She has just developed out of sight this season.
“She was named our development player and she’s really earned her spot in the side.
“She still plays under 17s, and that pressure at the end of the game, to sink it after the siren to win the game, it shows her maturity and how much she has developed.
Elsewhere in A Grade netball, Noradjuha Quantong firmed their finals push with a decisive 49-31 win over Taylors Lake.
Despite being down at quarter time, the Bombers finished strongly, with Taya Quick knocking down an impressive 42 goals in the win.
At Stawell, the Swifts suffered a heartbreaking 48-47 loss to Kalkee.
After trailing all game, a fourth-quarter push from the Swifts saw them take the lead with minutes to go, but two late goals from the visitors saw the Kees win, led by strong performances from Emily Polack and Amelia McRae.
At Pimpinio, the Tigers won their first game of the season, defeating Harrow Balmoral 45-43 in a very tight encounter.
Center Emily Hannan played well in the midcourt for the Tigers, with Janae Slorach finishing with 23 goals.