Netball
3 June, 2025
Saints near century, Demons victorious
Horsham Saints young gun Jorja Clode was near-perfect on the weekend as her side recorded a 72-goal win against Minyip Murtoa.
Clode scored 65 goals in the 97-25 round seven victory, shooting at an impressive 82 per cent accuracy.
Her frontcourt teammate, Abby Hallam, also outscored the Burras, scoring 32 goals at 82% accuracy.
The Saints were clinical from the opening whistle, scoring 23 goals in the second and third quarters before upping the ante, adding 26 and 27 goals in the second half.
The pressure was vital to the Saints' impressive victory, with the versatile Shannon Cross an essential cog in the midcourt.
Minyip Murtoa defender Lauren Dodgshun was valiant in the loss and was named in the Burra's best alongside Lucy Brand.
The win keeps the Horsham Saints at the top of the ladder with their seventh consecutive win and a four-point buffer over the Horsham Demons.
The Saints only play one game in the next three weeks, with a June 14 game against Ararat bookended by byes on June 7 and 21.
Buoyed by its first win of the season, the Eagles were keen to continue its momentum against the home side.
However, dogged defence from captain Georgia Batson and Sienna Manserra saw the visitors go into the break with a 13-8 deficit.
The play opened up after the first break, with the Demons extending its lead with a 15-11 quarter.
The Eagles clawed back after the main break, outscoring the defencing premiers 12-10, reducing the margin to just seven goals.
The Demons showed their class in the final quarter, eventually winning by eight goals.
Imogen Worthy was reliable as ever for the Demons, scoring 33 goals (82.5%), while Zarli Knight only missed one shot in her 11-goal effort before her game ended in the third quarter.
The Eagle's goal scorers were accurate, with Amber O'Connor's 27 goals (81%) and Nicola Clyne's 17 goals (77%) making the most of their opportunities.
A strong third quarter saw Dimboola defeat Stawell at home.
The Roos were motivated by taking third place from Ararat with a victory, while the Warriors sought their second win of the season.
Dimboola set the tone with a 19-13 opening quarter before going goal-for-goal with Stawell in the second quarter.
A 17-10 third quarter saw the Roos stamp its authority on the game and extend the margin to 13 goals.
Relentless midcourt pressure from Bridget Dorrington and accurate shooting from Nicole Polycarpou (39 goals at 92%) saw the home side win 67-50.
At the other end of the court, Dimboola defender Stephanie Glover and Stawell Holly Graveson (33 goals at 68%) saw the former named best on court.
In the final game of the round, Southern Mallee Thunder recorded a strong 22-goal win against Nhill on the road.
The Thunder applied plenty of pressure to the Tigers, limiting them to just four goals in the opening quarter.
SMT extended its lead with an 18-7 quarter, going into the main break with a 23-goal margin.
While the Tigers outscored the Thunder 22-21 in the second half, the margin was too great to overcome.
At the final whistle, Southern Mallee Thunder won 55-33.
Steph Thomson did the bulk of the scoring with 37 goals (68%), aided by Emma Mill (18 goals at 70%).
Mill was named best on court alongside defender Abby White.
Goalkeeper Shae-Lea Fischer was named best on the court against the Tigers for her match-up against Mill, and midcourter Tess McQueen received a nod for her work in the midcourt.