Football
12 July, 2025
Cougars aim for three in a row
Kaniva Leeor United are aiming to reverse the result of their round one clash against Rupanyup when the two sides meet on Saturday in round 13 of the Horsham District Football Netball League.
Since their opening round loss, the Cougars have been one of the most improved teams of the season, registering surprise wins against Pimpinio and Noradjuha Quantong.
Their strong form continued last week with a convincing 109-22 win over Natimuk United.
After some early success in the season, Rupanyup encountered a tough middle stretch of the season, playing all top five teams in the league in a six-week span.
Considering Kaniva Leeor United’s recent progression, this Saturday’s game does not look much easier for the Panthers, but their previous victory against the Cougars suggests they should not be discounted.
Jonno Hicks, coach of Kaniva Leeor United, insists that an emphasis on consistency and improvement is helping the side’s growth and will continue to be the focus for the remainder of the season.
“The message (to the team) doesn't really change,” Hicks said.
“It's about improvement, trying to work on our game.
“We're sort of fortunate now, we've got some quality on the field.
“We can play our style of footy, and hopefully we can match up with most teams.”
A win against Rupanyup could potentially elevate them into the top five, something Hicks says the side can consider down the road.
“We’ll try to get some good results in the back half of the year, and we’ll see what happens with the ladder and everything else,” Hicks said.