Sports reports: Coorong Cats are 2026 RMNA premiers
Plus the latest in Supercars, football, speedway, golf, lawn bowls and more.
This story includes a contribution from Michael Potts.
After going through the regular season undefeated, the Coorong Cats have taken home the 2026 River Murray netball premiership pennant with a tough 60-48 win over Imperials.
The Cats learned from the mistakes they had made in a qualifying final two weeks ago, when Imps had been one-goal winners, and didn't miss a beat in the replay.
They convincingly won the first three quarters, never really allowing Imps into the match.
However Imps showed their fighting spirit by taking the final quarter by a goal.
Georgia Dent (Coorong) took home the best on court award.
In other results:
- A reserve: Mannum 42 defeated Imperials 40, best on court Narelle Griffiths (Mannum)
- B grade: Southern Mallee 47 defeated Imperials 29, best on court Cassie Sparks (Southern Mallee)
- B reserve: Mannum 45 defeated Tailem Bend 29, best on court Shaylee Maloney (Mannum)
- C grade: Tailem Bend 39 defeated Mannum 30, best on court Yar Chol (Tailem Bend)
Jervois' Lachlan Thomas takes out the 2026 Mail Medal
Meanwhile, at a star-studded ceremony on Monday night, Jervois' Lachlan Thomas became only the eighth Mail Medallist in the club's 100-year history.
It was a tight race, with Thomas edging out Mannum's Matt Spencely by one vote.
The Lyall Parker Trophy for club of the year was won by the Jervois Bluds, who will have four teams playing in the five grand finals this season.
The leading goalkicker was Dan Menzel (Coorong), who was on target 75 times and went home with the Wayne Paech Medal.
In the reserves competition, the Lokan Medal was awarded to Mannum's Danny Walker.
Coach of the Year went to Mannum's Jason De Luca, who was also named as the coach for the team of the year.
In the junior ranks, Keller Eckermann (Mypolonga) won the B&F in the under 13s, Archie Elliott (Jervois) took home the Bryan Medal for the under 15.5s and Mason Kowald (Tailem Bend) won the Connolly Medal in the U18s.
Mostert and Coulthard win Enduro Opener at the Bend
On a day chaos reigned supreme, Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard have delivered a stunning victory from 11th on the grid in the Airtouch 500 at the Bend.
The #1 Toyota kept out of the drama in a wet and wild opening half of the race, and put the hammer down in the second half to claim a dominant 18-second win.
The race was marred with several re-starts due to the adverse conditions and close to half of the field, 13 cars, attracted penalties.
- Read more: www.supercars.com.
Murray Bridge Speedway gets underway for season 2027
Murray Bridge Speedway has held the opening night of its 2026-27 race season over the weekend.
More than 60 competitors were in attendance across the four racing divisions, with drivers eager to get back out on the track.
Wingless sprints put on a strong showing to kick off the season, with Mitchell Broome taking out the feature event ahead of Rylan Furler and Joel Chadwick.
Darren Brumfield was back on the winners list in the street stocks, ahead of Nigel Reichstein and Drew Flatman.
Brett Williams claimed both heat races in the modified sedans, before an electrical issue at the venue caused a significant time delay and with only three cars still running the decision was made to not run their feature event due to time constraints.
The junior sedans also got their season underway, with heat wins going to Ryan Burns and Brodie Reichstein, before a racing incident brought a premature end to their feature event.
Racing will next return to the venue on the October long weekend, with the annual sprintcars Battle of the Bridge and the Australian Sprintcar Stampede on October 3 and 4.
- See more photos: Social photos: Murray Bridge Speedway opening night
Greg Lannan has a timely return to form
Quality but long time out of form A-grader Greg Lannan has finally regained some touch when he reacquainted himself with good golf shots on Saturday and took out a Stableford competition in Murray Bridge with 40 points.
Two nines of 20 points apiece made for a nice consistent round topped off with a NTP win on the long second after a sweet strike off the tee.
The old saying "form is temporary but class is permanent" lives on.
Players finally struck a glorious day for golf and scoring was commensurate with the conditions.
Club champ Brett Altschwager kept his name up in lights with a brilliant 39-point round, beating fellow A-grader Glenn Hanson, who scored 37.
The big-hitting Hanson rolled in a long winding downhill putt for eagle on the eighth as his ball luckily hit the cup dead centre and dropped in at high pace.
"Fiery" Freddy Carter had a rare day on, compiling 39 points to win the C grade from the guy with the best mo in town, president Bargeus, who slapped together a handy 37-point effort.
"Lefty" Ruggiero stole the yabby from a disconsolate Barry Preston on the 17th after sending a sky-high iron shot off the tee to closest to the pin for the day.
Echunga Golf Club member Tom Hodgson ensured some prize money headed west back up the freeway when he also eagled the eighth hole to claim half of the eagle's nest, and his quality 22-point front nine also won him the day's pro comp.
It will be time for a par comp this weekend.
MEC Black Swans finish runner-up after taking out the minor premiership
The Eastern Eels have claimed the 2026 men’s metro NRL premiership after a fantastic grand final against minor premiers, the MEC Swans.
The Eels led from start to finish, producing a strong second-half performance to run out 40-12 winners and secure the premiership.
It was a hard-fought contest, with both sides leaving everything on the field, but the Eels proved too strong when it mattered most.
Lawns bowls season is not too far away
Murray Bridge Bowling Club has played host to Encounter Bay in a trial match over the weekend.
Ninety-six players took to the greens in perfect sunshine with the greens playing fast and running well.
Murray Bridge won the day 246 shots to 226.
The 2026-27 season will commence on October 11 with Tailem Bend v Karoonda, RSL v Murray Bridge and Jervois v Mannum.
Murray Bridge Netball Association announces dates for summer social netball
Mixed competition will begin on Tuesday, October 6 for the Murray Bridge Netball Association, followed by the ladies on Thursday, October 8.
Juniors will start on Thursday, October 15; call 0418 804 023 for details.
All matches will be played at Christian Reserve netball courts in Murray Bridge.
- Register to play or help out: Contact mbna1@bigpond.com.
River Murray Football League results
Mannum will face Jervois in the A grade grand final at Meningie this Saturday after defeating Coorong 11.13 (79) to 6.13 (49).
Other grand final lineups have also been decided:
- Reserves: Jervois v Coorong
- Under 18s: Jervois v Tailem Bend
- Under 15.5s: Jervois v Imperials
- Under 13s: Ramblers v Mallee
Murray Bridge United go down in final games of the season
- Murray Bridge United 2-5 Strathalbyn Strikers
J McFee 52', T. Christiansen 83' - Murray Bridge United reserves 1-2 Strathalbyn Strikers reserves
G Alympic 1'
Send your sports reports to, or express an interest in sponsoring this weekly feature by contacting, jane@murraybridge.news.
