Sports reports: River Murray defeats Hills at Eastern Zone Carnival

This post includes contributions from Mel Schilling, Daniel Irvine and Michael Potts.

• 🏉 Eastern Zone Carnival results
• 🏐 RMNA nets some wins at June long weekend Country Championships
• 🔫 Murray Bridge Rifle Club competes against wind
• ⛳️ Puttsy’s Putts: Murray Bridge Golf Club Results

🏉 Eastern Zone Carnival results

Woo hoo! In the 2023 Eastern Zone Carnival on Saturday, the River Murray Senior Men division one team beat the Hills team 14.8 (92) to 11.5 (71) at the Summit Sport and Recreation Park, Mount Barker.

Although the Hills led at the end of the first quarter by three points, by half-time the River Murray team were up by 20 points and maintained that lead until their 21-point victory.

River Murray best: Aidan Coakley, Matthew Hartman, Jack Penfold, Rory O’Driscoll, Luke Harrowfield, Brad Thompson. Goals: Sam Sanders 4, Ben Moroney 3, Josh Smithson 2, Lachlan Thomas, Rory O’Driscoll, Bailey Boughen, Zane Barry, Peter Zarantello 1.

Hills best: Thomas Mayo, Harry Weeks, Sam McTaggart, Ben Salt, Sam Zevenboom. Goals: Harry Weeks 3, Ben Salt 3, Archer Connolly 3, Cooper Skinner, Thomas Worthley 1.

In other results, the under 18 men’s Hills team defeated River Murray 8.9 (57) to 5.13 (43), and the under 16 Hills boys team narrowly defeated the River Murray under 16 boys 4.3 (27) to 3.8 (26).

🏐 RMNA nets some wins in June long weekend Country Championships

The Netball SA Country Championships has been going since 1936 and is one of the biggies in SA’s regional netball calendar, with over 1000 participants.

As these reports from the 11 and under up to 17 and under teams show, the River Murray teams competed well and took out some wins along the way.

17 and under

Game one: Wet and slippery conditions saw our girls make a few mistakes with passing, while the Riverland goalies didn’t miss, giving Riverland 30 goals to defeat River Murray on 18 goals.

Game two: The rain held off for the first half of the game, and River Murray started strong, with a lot of possessions. River Murray continued extremely strong defensive pressure the whole second half, with amazing shooting, resulting in River Murray 37 defeating Western Eyre 5.

Game three: A great intercept from Liv in the first pass resulted in a goal by Sophie Edwards, who shot well in the first half. Despite a scrappy start to the second half, there was very positive talk and encouragement from captains at either end, and River Murray won the game with 26 goals, defeating Northern Areas on 15.

Game four: Defensive pressure in the first half from River Murray made it hard for Broken Hill to score, with a 29 to 2 score River Murray’s way at half time. In the second half, River Murray scored freely, with great movement and teamwork down court leading to River Murray 52 defeating Broken Hill 4.

Game six: In the first indoor game of the day, the River Murray girls made some silly mistakes in the second half, causing turnovers. But the girls kept fighting and held their heads high under pressure, winning the game with 26 goals to the Mid South East’s 19 goals.

Game seven: The strength of Great Flinders was to have an impact all over the court in Sunday’s first game, but River Murray persisted and adjusted and began to increase their lead as they settled into the second half. It was a tough game to begin the day, but River Murray prevailed and made a gutsy effort to win 22 to Great Flinders 15.

Game eight: The River Murray defence worked well against Kowree–Naracoorte–Tatiara, and KNT’s defence applied great pressure. KNT 27 narrowly defeated River Murray 25.

Game nine: River Murray lined up against a very tall, physically strong Great Southern. There were exceptional passages of play by both teams, with amazing intercepts all over the court, but Great Southern were unstoppable, getting 34 goals and defeating River Murray on 22.

Game 10: It was a scrappy start from River Murray, and changes to both teams at half time took time to settle the game, but River Murray took control, scoring from turnovers, and the final result was a win to River Murray on 46 to Western Eyre on 10.

Game 11: Although the Mid South East scored the first three goals, and River Murray were down by two goals at half time, they lifted their intensity in the second half to win the game by five goals. The final score was River Murray 29 to Mid SE 24.

Game 12: River Murray struggled to penetrate the Hills’ defensive pressure, resulting in unforced errrors in the first half. In the second half, River Murray worked tirelessly to restrict the Hills’ strong drive, but the Hills were too strong overall, winning on 37 goals to River Murray’s 19.

Division one quarter-final: River Murray had a nervous start but soon fought back against the Western Border. Although all players on the court played their hearts out, the Borders had the better luck on the day, with a 41-goal win to River Murray on 19 goals.

15 and under, division one

Game one: Rain at the start of the game didn’t faze our 15 and under div one girls. Some great teamwork with lots of midcourt turnovers resulted in River Murray 23 defeating Northern Areas 13 to kick-start the day.

Game two: Hungry for a second win, the River Murray under 15s took to the wet court. It was a very evenly played game, with both sides having to adjust to the conditions. In the end, Riverland crossed the line to win with 22 goals to River Murray’s 21.

Game three: Another great game for the under 15s. The girls were having fun, and it was a great game to watch, resulting in the final score of River Murray 32 to Port Lincoln 19.

Game four: We were prepared for a tough game. The first half was hard, but after some changes, we started to find our groove. Our goal was to hit double digits, which we did. The final score was KNT 37 defeated River Murray 14.

Game five: Our GS – who mostly plays GA – mistakenly went off side, but after that, River Murray switched on and found their rhythm, winning Sunday’s first game with 25 goals to Great Flinders 18.

Game six: This was the third time playing this team, and we knew it would be a tough phsyical game. Our girls played a ripper game with multiple tips and intercepts, but Great Southern were the stonger team on the day, winning with 25 goals to River Murray 25. Still, a great effort for our girls.

Game seven: In the last game for the day, the girls wanted to finish with a win, and they did. They worked well together and encouraged one another, resulting in some court plays, with the goalies rewarding the shots. This win got River Murray to fourth place in the div one finals. The final score was River Murray 26 to Port Augusta 22.

Division one quarter-final: In the second half against Western Border, we were finding it tough to move through the midcourt, but both ends defensively and offensively smashed it. We may have lost – Western Border 36 defeated River Murray 24 – but it was a great, fast, tight game played by our girls. Bring on Loxton carnival!

15 and under, division two

Game one: Western Border were a tall team who played a flowing game of netball. River Murray tried hard, with some accurate shooting and strong rebounds, but Western Border 36 defeated River Murray 11.

Game two: River Murray started strong with accurate shooting. Kangaroo Island came back strongly in the second half, but River Murray started defending hard through the court to win with 25 goals to Kangaroo Island’s 14.

Game three: This was a closely contested game, with both teams playing strong, competitive netball. River Murray ran away winners with 17 goals, defeating Roxby Downs 14.

Game four: River Murray combined well to play flowing netball. But Southern Hills lifted their movement into space and defensive pressure though the whole court to run out winners, with 32 goals to River Murray’s 19.

Game five: River Murray moved the ball effectively and efficiently in Sunday’s first game. Tight circle defence and rebounding were converted into a well-won game, with River Murray 22 defeating Western Eyre 14.

Game six: A strongly contested game, with Mid Hills Two getting 23 goals to defeat River Murray 19. Both teams worked hard to maintain possession, but River Murray stayed close, ensuring a position in the finals.

Semi-final: It was so exciting to be in the semi-final at the Country Champs. Although the undefeated Southern Hills 39 defeated River Murray 10, our girls went out and played so well, combining and trying hard. All girls played in the match and ended the carnival full of netball, friendships and memories.

13 and under

Game one: River Murray were a bit nervous, and rain made passes unsteady and hard to catch, but we had very accurate shooting and great defensive pressure. In the end, Riverland 27 defeated River Murray 11.

Game two: The sunny weather was much better than the first game’s weather. River Murray’s movement was excellent and shooting was fantastic, with Zoe getting an amzing “super shot” after the siren. But in the end, Western Border 23 defeated River Murray 19.

Game three: Sadie Nankivell took so many intercepts, and there was amazing defence from Sadie N and Georgia N, forcing play into the ring and causing turnovers. Barossa Light and Gawler 15 defeated River Murray 12.

Game four: River Murray had good front cuts and great defence pressure. There was also amazing shooting from Zoe Harrington and great feeds from Shaylee Maloney. Mid Hills 18 narrowly beat River Murray 17.

Game five: River Murray lacked confidence, but had great rebounds from defence and amazing intercepts in Sunday’s first game. India was shooting amazingly. Whyalla 21 defeated River Murray 13.

Game six: Southern Hills had tall players, and River Murray kept throwing into hands. There was great shooting from both teams, but in the end Southern Hills 22 defeated River Murray 10.

Game seven: The game began with strong passes and fantastic defence pressure by River Murray, but in the second half our girls were very tired, leading to weak passses and dropped heads. North Eastern 27 defeated River Murray 12.

Game eight: We won! Our first win! This was our best game so far, with lots of positives, including excellent shooting and lots of good defence pressure, causing turnovers. We finished with 16 goals to Mid South East’s 13 goals.

Game nine: River Murray had great defence, great plays and extremely strong and accurate passes, but the girls were very tired in the last game of the day and made lots of silly little mistakes. Great Flinders 21 defeated River Murray 11.

11 and under

Mid Hills 14 defeated River Murray 12

River Murray 7 defeated Kangaroo Island 5

Great Southern 18 defeated River Murray 8

River Murray 18 defeated Yorke Peninsula 7

River Murray 14 defeated Adelaide Plains 9

🔫 Murray Bridge Rifle Club competes against wind

A difficult tail wind challenged shooters from the Murray Bridge Rifle Club last Saturday, as they competed from 800 metres in the penultimate round of the Club Championship, which also doubles as the Patron’s Trophy.

The conditions meant that the wind would often flick from left to right with little or no warning, but a few of the small contingent were able to excel nonetheless.

Among those were the two TR shooters on the day, Robert Paech and Greg Traeger, both of whom shot a possible in their second rounds, scoring 50.06 each.

The difference between Robert and Greg was the first round, where an unlucky magpie cost Greg the off-rifle win for the day, with Rob claiming it with a 99.11.

It wasn’t all bad news for Greg though, with his efforts enough to the secure the Patron’s Trophy for the first time.

In F-Class, it was a tight split amongst the top three, with Ian Elston missing out this week by a single centre as David McDonald claimed the stage win in F-Open and the handicap award for the day, 111.07 to 111.06.

Gordon Harrison, the lone F-Standard shooter was only three points further back on 108.03, while Frank Marshall had a day he’d rather forget.

The last stage of the championship will be next week when shooters make up a lost 400m round from earlier in the season.

⛳️ Puttsy’s Putts: Murray Bridge Golf Club Results

Women’s Stroke, June 6

• Winner: Sue Antel 75 nett
• Runner-up: Maureen Edwards 76

Men’s Stableford comp, June 7

• Winner: Joseph Marcus 38 points
• Runner-up: Aaron Zrim 37
• Ball winners: Greg Jones 37, Brian Smyth 34, Peter James 34, Patrick Secker 34, Ken Graetz 34, Leigh Hiscock 33, Maurice Wells 33

Women’s Stableford comp, June 10

• Winner: Maureen Edwards 33 points
• Runner-up: Sue Antel 31
• Ball winner: Adrienne Wright 30

Men’s Stableford comp, June 10

• Overall winner: Shane Williss 40 points
• “A” winner: Keith Durham 37
• “A” runner-up: David Lockwood 36
• “B” winner: Rob Walters 37
• “B” runner-up: Lawerance Crack 36
• “C” winner: Brian Smyth 39
• “C” runner-up: Graham Edwards 38
• Ball winners: Bob Logan 37, Kevin Shepley 37, Marl Bolton 36, Michael Vella 36, George Langsford 36, Bob McCormick 36, Jake McIntosh 36, Maurice Wells 36, Daniel Stevenson 35, Michael Pitcher 35

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