Drought-breaker for Rovers A graders

One of those magical moments that can only happen in sport took place at the weekend when the Wangaratta Rovers A grade netball team broke through for a thrilling one goal win against Myrtleford. It was the side's first taste of victory in the 2025 Ovens and Murray season. And in typical Rovers style, they had do it the hard way, coming from behind in a heart-stopping encounter. For coach Gracie Reid, the one word to sum up the feeling immediately after the win was 'relief'. "My team has worked so hard for this win, their belief and passion throughout the season has been unmatched, and I’m just so happy we finally got the result we’ve been pushing for," Reid said. "There were a few happy tears from some of the players, but all in good spirits. "This win means a lot." The Hawks trailed by up to eight goals during the match and were still four goals behind going into the last term "My message to the girls was, 'I don’t care what the score is at the end of this game, let’s walk off knowing we gave it everything, worked as a unit, and pushed ourselves',” Reid said. "It honestly felt like a goal-for-goal battle all game. "There were so many lead changes I lost count, but that just shows how competitive and intense the match was from start to finish." Amelia Sharp, Holly McCarthy, and Mikaela Trethowan were instrumental in the win while Gracie Reid (29 goals) and Bec Kreltszheim (12) shared the scoring duties, and Lara Judd and Briony Simpson remained composed and calm under pressure. But the coach herself said the victory took a whole team effort. "We were in sync with every play and every pass, looked after the ball when it mattered most, and took smart risks at the right moments," she said. "It really felt like we had seven defenders and seven attackers out there, everyone stepped up. "We also had Kyia Wohlers come on at half-time, and she slotted into a really tight contest with such composure, exactly the fresh legs and cool head we needed at that point in the game. "The support from the sideline, our teammates, and the broader club community was unmatched. "We heard the cheers, the gasps, and all the love, and it lifted us." The Hawks could finish off the home and away season with another victory as they face Wodonga this weekend, who are just one place above them on the O&M A grade ladder. Wangaratta Magpies endured a tough day against Wodonga Raiders before seeing their finals' hopes dashed in the 57-38 loss. Coach Shea Cunningham said although the result wasn't what was hoped for, in many ways it was a reflection of the season: full of effort, heart, and resilience, even when things didn’t fall their way. "We had moments, but couldn’t quite string them together," Cunningham said. "That said, the girls never dropped their heads, and that says a lot about their character. "On the bright side, we got through without any new injuries, which is a huge positive at this stage of the year." Milly O'Kane was outstanding in defence, providing plenty of drive while Holly McCarthy in WA was relentless, covering ground and leading by example. Amanda Umanski up forward showed real spark, creating opportunities and keeping her side in the hunt before finishing with 28 goals, while Kate Dean in defence was solid as a rock. "Their efforts were a great reminder of the talent and spirit we’ve got in this group," Cunningham said "After the game, the mood was reflective but not defeated. "There’s a strong sense of pride in how far we’ve come, and the players know they’ve laid foundations for something better. "They’re still united, still hungry, and still backing each other. The Magpies have the chance to close the season on a more positive note when they meet Albury at the showgrounds this weekend. Wangaratta Rovers 11, 21, 33, 41, (41) Myrtleford 11, 25, 34, 40, (40) Wodonga Raiders 14, 32, 45, 57, (57) Wangaratta 10, 20, 29, 38, (38)

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