Netball
16 September, 2025
Rams break grand final hoodoo with B grade premiership
It was third time lucky for Natimuk United, winning the HDFNL B grade premiership in front of an elated home crowd.
A sea of blue and yellow cheered as the hosts defeated Noradjuha Quantong 39-30.
The Bombers held the lead for much of the first quarter and went into the break up 10-9.
While much of the attention before the game was on Natimuk United’s Codi-Rae Fisher, the grade’s leading goal scorer, it was a different player who gave the Bombers headaches: goal keeper Lily Cameron.
Fisher and Cameron switched positions in the second quarter, and it paid dividends for the Rams, scoring 12 goals to seven to hold a four-goal lead at the main break.
The scoring slowed in the second half as each side adjusted to the other's tactics, with Natimuk United extending their lead to six at the final break.
With momentum and the crowd on their side, the Rams pushed ahead with another strong performance, winning the final quarter 11-8 to secure a nine-goal victory.
Cameron finished with 27 goals in a best-on-court performance but praised her teammates for staying focused after trailing in the first break.
“We made some mistakes but he kept our heads up high and pushed through for each other,” she said.
“We knew we had to keep calm and be strong.
"You have to be definite with your decisions and back yourself.
“If we do fail we know that we have each other's backs; we’ll pick each other up and keep going.”
Cameron’s teammate Fisher finished with 10 goals while Courtney Cameron added two.
For Noradjuha Quantong, Maddison Rethus scored 21 while Yolanda Molineaux added nine.
Co-coach Courtney Cameron said she felt several strong emotions after the final whistle.
“After we won I just felt this release and exhaustion,” Cameron said.
“All that hard work during the whole season, so I felt relieved and excited.”
Co-coach Casey Vanstan added the victory tasted sweeter after the heartbreak of the previous two grand finals.
“After losing last year, it was nice to get the win this year.
“It’s pretty exciting to win a grand final in front of a home crowd.”
In the C grade, Noradjuha Quantong triumphed over Kalkee 39-37.
The Bombers started strongly, shooting the first five goals, which helped them establish a lead for most of the game.
The sides mostly traded small runs, with Noradjuha Quantong building a five-goal lead multiple times only for Kalkee to narrow the margin to a single goal.
At half-time the Bombers led 24-18, only for the Kees to cut the margin to 31-28 at the final break.
Noradjuha Quantong did not relinquish the lead until the fifth minute of the last quarter, when Kalkee went ahead 34-33.
With the crowd on their side the Bombers rose to the occasion, scoring six of the last nine goals to claim the two-goal victory.
Alyssa Evans led Noradjuha Quantong with a best-on-court performance, scoring 36 goals.
Sophie Reid (11), Jenna Walter (2) and Maddy Bruce (1) also contributed crucial goals.
For Kalkee, Lilly Schorback, Chloe Reinheimer and Sophie Pietsch scored 22, 11 and 4 goals, respectively.
After the game Bombers coach Chloe Gabby said she was rapt with her side's performance.
"We were pretty lucky to make the final but the girls just played their hearts out week in week out," Gabby said.
"They kept their heads at the end of the game and just ran it out until the final whistle.
"I'm just so proud of them; it's a massive achievement."
Laharum's C reserve side capped off a tremendous year with a comfortable 52-33 win against Noradjuha Quantong.
Both teams enjoyed strong crowd support from the outset, despite the game coinciding with the senior football grand final.
The Demons' strategy was straightforward: feed the ball to Charli Watts, the grade's best and fairest winner and leading goal shooter.
However, the Bombers were ready, frequently double-teaming Watts to intercept stray passes.
At the other end, Emma Criddle, the best and fairest runner-up, and Chloe Newcombe were poised to convert turnovers into goals.
Neither side was able to establish dominance in the first half, with Laharum taking a 25-20 lead into the main break.
However, Watts' height and accuracy helped the Demons extend their lead to seven goals at the final break and ultimately secure a 19-goal win for the premiership.
Watts finished with 44 goals and was named best on court, while Ellysha Shields added eight.
Bombers Criddle and Newcombe finished with 17 and 16 goals, respectively.
"I've never been welcomed into a club like this one before," Watts said of the Demons after the game.
"I've created so many amazing friendships; I just love this club so much."
