Under-15s salvage points for All Blacks amid tough trip to Tarrawingee

The home side controlled much of the early play as the Panthers were consistently second to the football, made poor decisions with ball in hand and struggled to adapt to the slippery conditions.

After a disappointing first half, the Panthers responded strongly after the main break. Sam Cox, David Button, Jake Dempster and Spencer Hunter led the charge through the midfield, lifting the team’s work rate and attack on the football. Up forward, Dyl Sinclair proved a dangerous target and thrived as the Panthers began to gain momentum.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the enthralling battle between key talls Middleton and Riley Kego in the Tarrawingee forward half. Both players had a significant impact on the contest, with neither willing to give an inch in a contest that showcased some outstanding football.

The Panthers’ resurgence saw them storm back into the game during the third term, reducing the margin to just eight points at the final change. When the Panthers kicked the opening goal of the last quarter to close the gap to only two points, the game was well and truly up for grabs.

However, from that point on Tarrawingee regained control of the contest. The home side capitalised on their opportunities and dominated the remainder of the final quarter, eventually running out deserved 24-point winners.

While the result was disappointing, the third-quarter response showed what this young Panthers group is capable of when they bring intensity, pressure and a willingness to adapt to the conditions, but football comes back to four quarters of football and preparation. Too much catch up footy.

Score: Benalla 7.4 (46) def by Tarrawingee 9.16 (70)

Awards: Harry Brown - Sam Cox, Sportspower - Riley Kego, Royal Hotel - Dylan Sinclair

Reserves

A wet and miserable day greeted both sides at Tarrawingee, with heavy conditions making clean football hard to come by. Despite the challenges, Tarrawingee proved too strong, running out convincing winners 157 to 2.

The Benalla All Blacks were under pressure for much of the day but continued to compete in difficult circumstances. Matthew Hedger was a standout in his first game for the club, dominating the ruck contests and providing a physical presence around the stoppages to earn best on ground honours.

Down back, David Whitechurch was typically resolute, standing strong in defence and repeatedly repelling attacks under constant pressure. Chris Orton showed great versatility, contributing across multiple positions and giving everything wherever he was needed.

While the scoreboard didn’t reflect the effort, the All Blacks showed perseverance in tough conditions and will take valuable lessons from a demanding day against a well-drilled Tarrawingee outfit.

Score: Benalla 0.2 (2) def by Tarrawingee 22.25 (157)

Awards: Best on Ground - Matthew Hedger, Royal Hotel - David Whitechurch, All Blacks Dinner - Chris Orton

Netball

A Grade

Going into what was expected to be a tight contest, Benalla faced an uphill battle before the first whistle, with Eleanor Renkin a late withdrawal and Alara Jones unavailable through injury. Coach Georgia Spencer was also sidelined, leaving the All Blacks undermanned against a strong opposition outfit.

The All Blacks were slow to start but remained determined to make the most of the opportunity, giving several young players valuable exposure at A Grade level. Despite the tireless efforts of everyone who took the court, Benalla were unable to match their opponents and went down 23-66.

Bronti Mustey was a standout in defence, taking on the tough task of matching up against the league’s leading goal shooter. She competed strongly all game, forcing missed shots and working hard to secure rebounds and regain possession for her side.

Young gun Harper Robertson, a star in the under-15s, stepped into the goal attack role and impressed with her confidence, work rate and movement through both the midcourt and goal circle.

Another under-15 talent, Lola Crook, delivered a cracking performance at goal shooter. Showing great composure beyond her years, Lola held strongly in the circle and combined her accurate shooting with smart positioning to provide a reliable target throughout the game.

Score: Benalla 23 def by Tarrawingee 66

B Grade

B Grade faced challenging wet conditions on the weekend and were slow to settle, finding themselves trailing by seven goals at the first break. The All Blacks responded brilliantly in the second quarter, lifting their intensity across the court and outscoring Tarrawingee by three goals to work their way back into the contest.

The third quarter was a hard-fought battle, with both teams matching each other goal for goal and finishing the term with six goals apiece. Despite their determination and improved performance throughout the game, the All Blacks were unable to reel in the early deficit and eventually went down to a strong Tarra outfit.

Best on court (Tyrepower) honours went to Jemma Smith, who proved she has the ability to run out a full game in goal attack while shouldering the majority of the team's scoring responsibilities. Her work rate and composure under pressure were outstanding.

Second best (Terry White) was Grace Cooke, who also showed her endurance by playing out a full game and was exceptional defensively, producing countless intercepts and "windmills" that kept the opposition under constant pressure.

Third best (Thursday night dinner) went to our ever-reliable centre, Emma Sangster, whose calmness, leadership and guidance across the court continue to be invaluable to the team.

A special mention must also go to Keira Brown, who stepped up from the under-17s and showed great maturity and confidence at the higher level. She fitted seamlessly into the side and should be proud of her performance.

Score: Benalla 24 def by Tarrawingee 32

B Reserve

Benalla All Blacks B Reserve side had their full outfit for the first time since the beginning of the season as they took on Tarrawingee in what was always going to be a tough contest.

Determined to show just how much they had improved since their last meeting, the girls did exactly that. Capitalising on every opportunity, the attacking end showcased patience and accuracy under the post, while the defence applied relentless pressure and contested every ball. Their efforts saw the All Blacks take a two-goal lead into the first break.

The girls came out firing again in the second quarter and continued their strong brand of netball, but Tarrawingee responded just as well and managed to edge ahead by half time.

The second half was just as intense, with our defenders refusing to let any ball go uncontested and our midcourt hunting every loose ball while transitioning seamlessly from defence to attack.

Heading into the final quarter, the girls threw absolutely everything they had at the game. Despite their incredible effort, Tarrawingee ultimately took the win by just two goals, 39-37.

The girls have made us incredibly proud and have proved to themselves just how good they can be. Although it wasn’t the result we were chasing, it was an absolutely phenomenal performance and one we can walk away from with our heads held high.

Score: Benalla 37 def by Tarrawingee 39

Awards: Sportspower - Isabella Smith, Racing Club - Grace Morrison, Club Dinner - Lilly Robertson

Under 17s

An extremely slow start to the game saw Benalla score just three goals in the opening quarter, forcing the girls to play catch-up for the remainder of the match.

Despite having plenty of possession and opportunities, the All Blacks were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard, eventually going down 18-40.

Darcie Jackson played a full four quarters at centre and showed great composure throughout the game. She remained steady under pressure and attacked the ball hard in both defence and attack, providing plenty of drive through the midcourt.

Amali Mackenzie performed well at goal attack before moving back into goal shooter, where she worked tirelessly and shot accurately despite the pressure.

Isabella Lowry had an impressive game in wing defence, disrupting opposition play and creating valuable turnovers. After moving into wing attack, she found excellent positioning and delivered quality feeds into the goal circle.

Under 15s

In cold conditions, the Benalla All Blacks travelled to Tarrawingee for round 11.

The first quarter saw a frantic start, with plenty of back-and-forth play between both sides as each team looked to settle into the game.

At the first break, the players were encouraged to stay calm, trust their training, and focus on the fundamentals they had been working hard on during the week.

Harper Robertson showed great strength and leadership through the centre, providing a calm presence in transition and delivering accurate feeds into the attacking circle. After a much-improved second quarter, the team was encouraged to maintain their intensity and continue applying strong defensive pressure.

The second half saw goalers Lilly Hazell and Lola Crook really find their rhythm, moving beautifully together in the goal circle. Olivia Mullaly and Imogen English worked tirelessly through the midcourt, providing quality ball movement and precise feeds into attack.

In defence, Kayla Woodhams had a brilliant game, combining exceptionally well with Lara McConachy. The pair consistently intercepted the ball and applied relentless pressure, making life difficult for Tarrawingee’s attackers.

Sophia Young also delivered a standout performance, giving 100 per cent effort throughout the game and putting into practice the skills and strategies worked on at training.

Once again, it was a fantastic team effort, with every player contributing to a strong four-quarter performance. Coach Jemma Smith was incredibly proud of the team’s effort, teamwork, and continued development throughout the season.

Score: Benalla All Blacks 59 def Tarrawingee 28

Awards: Harley’s Pizza Award - Harper Robertson, Benalla McDonald’s/Club Award - Sophia Young, Spot 4 Ice cream award - Lilly Hazell