Sports reports: Coorong Cats’ Olivia Nicholls named RMNA best and fairest for 2025

This story includes contributions from Michelle Green and Michael Potts.

Coorong Cats midcourter Olivia Nicholls has won the River Murray Netball Association’s highest honour, being named the A grade’s best and fairest player on Monday night.

The 21-year-old was also named the association’s best senior player and a member of its A grade team of the year.

“Liv was new to the Cats this year and she has put in an amazing season,” the club said in a social media post.

“Her skills and leadership through the midcourt (have) been a huge part of our A grade side’s success this year and we are so proud to see Liv recognised (in) this way.”

Also recognised during a ceremony at the Bridgeport Hotel were:

• A grade: Runners-up Kailah Dalle-Molle (Imperials) and Tenille Gray (Mallee)
• A reserves: Courtney Bouzikos (Tailem Bend), runner-up Rayne Philbey (Southern Mallee)
• B grade: Stacy Morzer-Bruyns (Southern Mallee), runner-up Kailee Greig (Mannum)
• B reserves: Amanda Downs (Mannum)
• C grade: Gypsy Roan (Mypolonga), runner-up Madeline Jarred (Mannum)
• Umpire of the year: Kylie Bormann (Ramblers)

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

Junior awards had been given out a week earlier.

• More information: www.facebook.com/rivermurrayna.

Rocket Ronny aims for back-to-back national titles

Meanwhile, Monarto teenager Judd Plaisted – better known on the track as Rocket Ronny Racing – is eyeing a place in world motorsport history as he competes in the FIM Mini GP 190cc Australia Series.

He hopes to become the first rider to claim back-to-back national titles in the 160cc and 190cc classes.

After dominating the 160cc Australian Series in 2024, Judd has stepped up to the bigger 190cc machines this season and is already proving to be a serious contender.

He finished first in Newcastle; third at Oakleigh, Victoria after setting a lap record but crashing; first at Monarto; and first at Albury-Wodonga; and will race at Port Melbourne this weekend.

If successful, Judd would not only become the inaugural double national champion, but also the first competitor to ever achieve back-to-back Mini GP titles across two classes.

This historic result would also book his ticket to the FIM Mini GP World Series Final in Valencia, Spain, where he would line up against the best junior riders on the planet during the final week of the Moto GP season.

“Winning the 160cc series last year was incredible, but to back it up in the 190cc class would mean everything,” he said.

“Racing against the world’s best in Valencia is my ultimate goal.”

He acknowledged the support of his family, coaches and sponsors: “I couldn’t do this without the people backing me, on and off the track.”

Judd began riding motorbikes at a young age, drawing inspiration from his strong family background in motorbike racing.

He quickly progressed through the junior ranks, showing both natural talent and an unmatched determination to succeed.

His journey has been underpinned by the ongoing support of his family and close-knit supporters, who together have balanced the demands of work, school, racing, and home life while travelling thousands of kilometres across the country to keep his dream alive.

With aspirations to join the ranks of Australian success stories like Casey Stoner and Jack Miller, Judd is determined to carve his own path into the top tiers of world motor sport.

Michael Vella claims victory at Murray Bridge Golf Club

Michael Vella has shown that he can do more than just sell and fit tyres – he can also play good golf on the odd occasion.

Saturday was one of those occasions, when he thumped a 91-strong field in a stroke competition at Murray Bridge Golf Club with a blazing score of nett 67.

Not missing a fairway all day helped, especially around the thickly tree-lined course, and a slice or two of good fortune never goes astray, either.

Owning up to a bladed third shot on the par-four 10th hole smashing into the pin and dropping straight in for a birdie, as well as a repeat on the 18th without the ball dropping in this time, certainly helped his scorecard big time.

It was nice to see a valued club sponsor getting a slice of luck.

Most others would have been happy to see him play well – big-betting playing partners aside, of course.

It was tough going on course with the tees back, the greens slick and the pin positions awkward.

Keith Durham, unseen for some time, won the A grade with a nett 70 and it was good to see Shane Williss regain his touch in taking out the C grade with an identical score.

Yesterday’s man Deane Pannell, despite not having a great day, was crowing about his great shot on the 11th which won him the yabby; while three visiting golfers from Grange, playing in the same group, were all putting for eagle on the 8th hole.

They were low handicappers and one of them, Daryl Alderson, drained his putt to secure the eagle’s nest and a dozen Pro V1 balls to take home.

It will be back to a Stableford competition this Saturday.

Coorong Cats take over in local football and netball

• Second semi: Coorong cats 84 (13.6) defeated Jervois 69 (10.9)
  Cats best: Henry Turner, Darcy Connor, Albert Dunstan, Charlie Fisher, Matthew Hartman, Alexander Stidiford. Jervois best: Rigby Barnes, Peter Zarantonello, Bienfait Bigazi, Josh Hickmott, Zane Barry, Joshua Scott.
• First semi: Imperials 69 (10.9) defeated Southern Mallee Suns 36 (5.6)
  Imps best: Mitchell Carroll, Jack Penfold, Cameron Ball, Sean Samblich, Johnny Boras, James Clarke. Suns best: Rory O’Driscoll, Nick Hyde, Josh Smithson, Ryan Wurfel, Charlie Hay.

Jervois and Imperials will face off this Saturday at 2.30pm at Johnstone park for a shot in the big dance against Coorong Cats.

In the netball Coorong Cats 59 defeated Imperials 56, and will now face Mallee Storm this Saturday at Imperials at 3.30pm.

Local horses win at Morphettville

On September 6 at the Morphettville Racecourse, two Murraylands horses were able to take out a prize during their races, including:

• Sairyn Fawke won the Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap (1400 metres) on the Garret Lynch trained horse, Alainge.
• Caitlin Tootell won the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (2250m) on Michael Hickmott trained horse, Rabtat.

Murray Bridge United draw

Murray Bridge United 2 drew with Brother United 2

• Goals: A. Moktan 49' and S. Weightman 78'
• Bookings: Josh Flood 30', Jeremy Byrnes 34' and Samuel Weightman 78'

Email your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.