Echuca United is still without a win six games into its Murray Netball League season after a heavy home defeat to Mulwala. Photos: Jordan Townrow
A pair of strong away wins headlined the performances of local sides in round seven of Murray Netball League, as Tongala thrashed Cobram and Moama edged past Deniliquin, while Echuca United is still searching for its first win after falling heavily to Mulwala.
Cobram v Tongala
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Tongala suffered a close defeat at home to Deniliquin last time out, a loss that spurned the opportunity to register four straight wins, but the Blues were favoured to return to the winners’ list against a Cobram side on a three-game losing streak.
Abby Pettifer’s team lived up to expectation in a one-sided 65-27 victory, extending a perfect record away from home and gaining a strong percentage boost in the process.
Echuca United’s Aisha Railton catches the ball.
That percentage is now up to 125 and is the reason fourth-placed Tongala sits above Moama and Numurkah on the league ladder, while also only being two wins from top spot.
Next up, Tongala hosts bottom-placed Congupna in another game it will be heavily favoured to win, the Blues looking to keep stacking victories in the hope of sides above them slipping up.
Georgina Farrell looks for a teammate as Mulwala’s Tess McNamara applies pressure.
Deniliquin v Moama
Moama responded to consecutive defeats by cruising past Cobram in round six, regaining confidence ahead of a meeting with Deniliquin, which sat just below the Magpies on the ladder as the two finals contenders duelled at Hardinge Street Oval.
A close encounter was expected and that’s what was delivered early as both sides largely traded goals in the opening quarter, with a couple of late baskets for Moama in the period seeing it trail by only two at the first interval.
Tiah Hooppell receives the pass.
The Magpies opened the second period with three unanswered goals, a run that set them up for the remainder of the quarter.
Carri Carter’s side went on to shut down the Rams’ attack, only allowing five goals across the 15 minutes while adding a total of 13 itself, which included five unanswered baskets to close the first half, Moama leading 24-18 at half-time.
The visitor maintained its cushion throughout the third quarter as it prevented Deniliquin from cutting into the margin and, in the end, Moama pushed its lead up by two more goals, leading by eight ahead of the final quarter.
Diaz Agg attempts to knock the ball out of Stephanie Ferguson’s hands.
The Magpies haven’t necessarily been renowned for strong defensive quarters this season, but defence was certainly their calling card against the Rams, as Moama held its opponent to another five-goal period in the fourth while adding eight baskets to win 45-34.
At the attacking end, Holly Swatton provided the bulk of the goals with 30, being aided by eight from Indiana Phillips and seven for Jinaya Nurse.
Ashley Campbell throws the pass.
The win was Moama’s first away success in 2026 and arguably its most impressive overall display, but despite those positives the Magpies still slid a place to fifth on the ladder due to the aforementioned percentage boost Tongala received by thrashing Cobram.
Moama will face one of the four sides sitting above it next time out in Rumbalara, which is a match-up that will be a litmus test to see how Carter’s side measures against another finals contender.
Diaz Agg and Stephanie Hammond get airborne to win possession.
Echuca United v Mulwala
Without a win in 2026, Echuca United’s quest to rid itself of that unwanted statistic was not going to ease up when one of the league’s best sides in Mulwala made the trip to Echuca South Recreation Reserve.
Tessa Brunii assesses her options.
Leesa Hooppell’s young side was put on the back foot immediately, with the Lions netting 11 of the game’s first 14 goals in nine minutes, running out to a double-digit lead that they maintained by the first interval.
The state of play would only worsen for the Eagles in the second quarter, as Mulwala piled on eight straight goals to open the period, going on to add 15 total while holding Echuca United to a lacklustre three, with the visitor in a strong position by leading 33-11 at half-time.
All eyes on the ball as Stephanie Hammond takes the shot.
Outside a brief four-goal run midway through the third period, the second half was largely more of the same for the Eagles.
Echuca United continued to feel the full force of Mulwala’s potency, as the Lions improved on their first two quarters with another 37 goals in the second half to cruise to a 70-31 victory.
Adrienne Templeton contests Eliza Pearce’s shot.
Positives from the heavy defeat for the Eagles was another strong effort from Eliza Pearce, who netted 18 goals, while Congupna’s loss to Numurkah means The Road is still below Echuca United on the ladder.
Next up Hooppell’s side has another fixture in which it will be a heavy underdog, travelling to take on unbeaten Nathalia.
