Sports Reports: RMFL stars recognised during Indigenous round

This post includes contributions from the River Murray Football League, the River Murray Netball Association and Daniel Irvine.

• RMFL stars recognised during Indigenous round
• River Murray netball results
• River Murray under-15s make grand final at netball country championships
• Murray Bridge, Mount Barker shooters go head to head

RMFL stars recognised during Indigenous round

The River Murray Football League’s clubs have paid their respects to the traditional owners of the Murraylands during the league’s annual Indigenous round.

Imperials 20.15 (135) defeated Mypolonga 2.6 (18)

Imperial best players: Luke Harrowfield, Samuel De Michele, Harley Montgomery, Lachlan Marsh, Jaiden Mole. Goals: Samuel De Michele 6, Jaiden Mole 6, Johnny Boras 3, Luke Harrowfield 3, Mitchell Lienert, Lucas Young.

Mypolonga best players: Todd Howson, Declan Fritchley, Hugh Mason, Corey Jones, Clark Stegmeyer. Goals: Simon Norris, Jack Wilkins.

Jervois 22.9 (141) defeated Mannum 4.3 (27)

Jervois best players: Joshua Scott, Owen Love, Tom Kluske, Ben Hansen, Peter Zarantonello. Goals: Joshua Scott 9, Owen Love 6, Taite Silverlock 3, Peter Zarantonello 2, Ben Hansen, Tom Kluske.

Mannum best players: Bailey Boughen, Bryce Jaensch, Jack Bormann, Joel Webster, Mitchell Heward. Goals: Harrison Hawkins, Dylan Ribbons, Jacob Stagg, Matthew Weistra.

Tailem Bend 12.6 (78) defeated Meningie 6.14 (50)

Tailem Bend best players: Lachlan Thomas, Daniel Perks, Dylan Hogarth, Harry Porter, Robert Young. Goals: Nick Westhoff 3, Jacob Wilson 2, Steven Clay 2, Connor Smelt 2, Tom Starkey 2, Benjamin Rossi.

Meningie best players: Clinton Walker, Benjamin Gibbs, Dylan Biggins, Henry Turner, Liam Thompson. Goals: Mark Ploenges 2, Benjamin Gibbs, Jack Holliday, Sam Sanders, David Wilson.

River Murray netball results

Mannum 60 defeated Jervois 42

Imperials 43 defeated Mypolonga 33

River Murray under-15s make grand final at netball country championships

The River Murray Netball Association’s representative teams have gained valuable experience at this year’s South Australian Country Championships.

Under-17s captain Bella Schubert carried the River Murray flag in the championships’ opening ceremony.

The under-17s team won four out of five games of highly competitive netball on the Saturday, June 11, losing only to arch-rivals Great Southern; and five out of six on the Sunday.

In a knockout final on the Monday, Port Augusta were five goals up before the River Murray scored, but the girls’ persistence, resilience and teamwork paid off as they came back to win 22-19 and cement a preliminary final spot against the Riverland.

The Riverland seemed to have more fire in their bellies, and though the RMNA girls put forth a gallant effort, it wasn’t to be.

However, finishing third out of nearly 30 teams was a magnificent effort which showed the level of skill and talent the association has coming through.

The under-15s had a nervous start in a loss to the Hills, a bounce-back win over Northern Areas, a loss to Whyalla despite hard work, a tight game which ended in a one-point loss to Great Flinders, and great defensive efforts in a 30-7 win against Port Pirie which rounded out Saturday’s matches.

The side started their second day strong with a 25-17 win over the Riverland, but Port Lincoln’s first-half tenacity gave them a win in the next round; after that came strong defence and full-court pressure in a win over Gawler and District, a great tussle in a win against Western Border, and a tough game in which Hills took the win.

The under-15s’ division two finals campaign started with a 26-23 win against Eastern Eyre, full of intercepts and tips, followed by a very close game against North Eastern.

A controversial decision at the end of the game to give a penalty in the goal ring could have resulted in a draw, but the North Eastern goaler missed, giving the River Murray a 19-18 win and a grand final berth.

The decider against the Barossa was intense; a few little mistakes wound up making the difference as the River Murray’s opponents won by six goals.

However, the girls gave their all throughout the weekend, and will hope to go one step better and bring home a premiership next year.

Nerves were high for the under-13 team’s members, many of whom had never played in such a big competition before.

However, accurate shooting and dominant defence gave them three wins from five games on the Saturday and four out of five on the Sunday.

Before their division one final against Mid Hills, the side’s coach and manager told the girls that they could be proud of their skill development and the friendships they had made throughout the weekend.

The River Murray played a strong defensive game, forcing Mid Hills into a lot of held ball penalties and missed goals, but a few ball handling mistakes allowed their opponents to take a 23-12 win.

The association sent an under-11 side to the championships for the first time this year, too.

The 10 enthusiastic girls endured several lopsided losses, but only went down by two goals against Great Northern.

In their last game for the day, against Port Augusta, awesome teamwork meant they were finally rewarded with a win.

The weather was kind throughout the day and the girls’ enthusiasm didn’t wane, thanks in part to great support from the parents and family members on the sidelines.

Murray Bridge, Mount Barker shooters go head to head

Eleven members of the Murray Bridge Rifle Club have been joined by 11 from the Mount Barker and districts club for the third stage of the DRA Championship.

It had been a lovely, sunny Saturday morning at Monarto – until shooters were ready to begin, when it became overcast and wind chill made conditions decidedly cooler.

However, it did not rain and the wind was consistent enough for many to get a good read on the 500 and 600 metre ranges.

Greg Traeger, Loui Burke, Richard McInnes, Tim Manning and Rob Mitchell all scored possibles, with many more only one or two off.

In target rifle, Traeger secured the win in A grade; however, leading the way from B grade was Mount Barker’s Graham Hancock, who scored a pair of 49s to finish as the top off-rifle shooter with a 98.07.

There was also some close competition in F-standard; again it was the B-graders who excelled, with Murray Bridge’s Gordon Harrison finishing top off-rifle with 116.11.

It was just as fierce in F-open, with the top three shooters all finishing on 118 points.

Mount Barker’s Tim Manning won the day without winning a range, finishing with 12 centres, ahead of clubmate Rob Mitchell and Murray Bridge’s John Cranwell on 10 and five centres, respectively.

Loui Burke, from Mount Barker, finished top of a small sporting and hunter field, ending the day with a 96.09.

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