Sports reports: Stacey Hein wins RMNA’s best and fairest award for 2023

Plus the latest in River Murray football, Murray Towns cricket and Murray Bridge golf, soccer and rifle shooting.

Sports reports: Stacey Hein wins RMNA’s best and fairest award for 2023

This post includes a contribution from Daniel Irvine.

Stacey Hein beams after being named the RMNA’s A grade best and fairest player on Monday night. Photo: River Murray Netball Association/Facebook.

Stacey Hein wins RMNA’s best and fairest award

Mypolonga star Stacey Hein is on top of the world after winning River Murray netball’s top award in a canter on Monday night.

Hein was named the A grade competition’s best and fairest player by a wide margin, beating Southern Mallee’s Olivia Clark by 20 votes in the count at the Bridgeport Hotel.

Both were named in the team of the year alongside Imperials’ Casey DeMichele, Olivia Bolt and Kailah Dalle-Molle; Mypo’s Kelly Altmann and Shannon Green; Mallee’s Tenille Gray; Jervois’ Courtney Afford; and Mannum’s Kelly McGormann; with Carrie Daniels as coach.

McGormann and Imps’ Kim Perriman were awarded life membership of the association on the night.

Mypolonga was recognised as the most successful club overall, and Imperials as the best senior club.

Other awards included:

  • Umpire of the year: Charmaine Sherman
  • A reserves best and fairest: Leah Anderson-Morris (Ramblers), Kara Reed (Mypolonga) and Ally Wendelborn (Imperials)
  • B grade best and fairest: Jessica Crocker (Ramblers)
  • B reserves best and fairest: Hannah Chambers (Mypolonga)
  • C grade best and fairest: Alana Fiegert (Ramblers)

A number of players were also recognised for having played milestone matches this season, including the unstoppable Nicky Smith for her 500th senior game.

Ex-Imperial footballer Brandon Zerk-Thatcher has requested a trade back to South Australia. Photo: AFL Photos.

Murray Bridge’s Brandon Zerk-Thatcher wants to come home

Essendon defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher wants to play for Port Adelaide as the Power look to bolster their key defensive stocks this trade period.

Zerk-Thatcher is understood to have settled on wanting a trade to the Power and to head home to South Australia, where he has a family pull.

The out-of-contract backman has had a three-year offer in front of him from the Bombers for some time and has been weighing his decision on his future.

Meningie Cricket Club promoted to A grade

Meningie will join a six-club A grade competition in the Murray Towns Cricket Association this summer.

Each grade will feature six clubs to avoid the need for any byes.

The other five in the A grade will be Tailem Bend, Mypolonga, Mannum, Monarto and Wanderers.

However, Karoonda Cricket Club will not take part in the upcoming season after going into recess.

A grade matches will begin at 1pm on Saturdays this season and will last for 45 overs, down from 50.

Cricket season will start on October 14.

At the King’s Competition are Andrew Heard, back left, David McDonald, Robert Paech, Greg Traeger and his grandson Connor; plus Adrian Conlon, Nicole Edwards, Daniel Irvine, Gordon Harrison and Jasamine Irvine. Photo: Supplied by Daniel Irvine.

Murray Bridge shooters find success at King’s Competition

Nine members of the Murray Bridge Rifle Club made the trek to Lower Light last week to compete in the South Australian King’s Competition, the pinnacle of competition at the national level, drawing shooters from around the country.

The conditions across the two-day lead-up event and the three-day King’s Competition were definitely challenging as shooters were subjected to cold, rain, high winds, rapidly changing winds, heat, mirage and flies.

The events were shot across a range of distances and included 10- and 15-shot matches, and the Murray Bridge Rifle Club was proud to field entrants in almost every category, finding successes across the board.

Undefeated Jervois earn RMFL grand final berth

Jervois 9.16 (70) defeated Southern Mallee 8.12 (60)

Jervois best: Taite Silverlock, Anthony Long, Mackenzie Hansen, Bienfait Bigazi, Dylan Barry, Harry Barnett.

Southern Mallee best: Ben Moroney, Brett Pedersen, Rory O’Driscoll, Jayden Barrett, Thomas Keough.

Mypolonga 12.12 (84) defeated Imperials 8.15 (63)

Mypolonga best: Jack Kluske, Patrick Davies, Stephen Mills, Mitchell Bowley, Regan Gotch.

Imperials best: Ben Gogel, Jacob Rance, Jack Penfold, Jack Mckay, Mitchell Lienert, Patrick Bury.

Daniel Stevenson wins Murray Bridge Stableford comp

Men’s Stableford competition, September 9

  • Overall winner: Daniel Stevenson 39 points
  • A grade: Luke Woods 36, Matt Kowald 33
  • B grade: Tom Haig 35, Richard Mills 33
  • C grade: Fred Carter 38, Garth Dodd 38
  • Ball winners: Robert McCormick, Shaun McGlashan 37; Paul McCulloch, Michael Vella 35; Maurice Wells, Rob Muster 34; Zelko Bilandzic, Jarrod Kerr, David Stoddard, Andrew Meddle, Jeff Reuter, Nicholas Stephenson 33

Women’s Stableford competition, September 9

  • Winner: Suzanne Antel 36 points
  • Ball winners: Maureen Edwards 35, Ellen Paech 34, Robyn Teasdale 30

Men’s Stableford competition, September 6

  • Winner: Colin Golding 39 points from Colin Baker 39
  • Ball winners: Eric Williams, Lukas Wright 37; Daniel Stevenson, Jeff Lipp 36; Peter Erickson, Michael Broadley 35; Rob Muster, Patrick Evans, Peter Phillips, Lawerance Crack, Grant Brightman 34; Malcolm Blight 33

Women’s stroke competition, September 5

  • Winner: Kathryn Pfeiffer 67 nett
  • Ball winners: Hazel Thomas 73, Maureen Edwards 76

United earn draw against Dragon

Murray Bridge United drew with Adelaide Dragon 2-2

Goals: Dylan August 28’, Jay Eckermann 73’

Murray Bridge United reserves lost to Adelaide Dragon 1-3

Goal: Alex Black

Yellow cards: Alex Black, Ian Gene Chio


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