Football

Seniors

Benalla pulled off an incredible win this weekend in a thrilling clash against King Valley, edging them out by just three points in what was a true team effort from start to finish.

The first quarter set the tone for the day, with both sides going goal for goal in a fierce and physical contest. Jesse Walker came out firing, kicking two crucial goals early and setting the standard with his pressure and skill up forward.

The second quarter was just as tight, but Benalla managed to gain a slight edge heading into half time. Sam Cox was a standout through the midfield, running hard all game, taking strong marks, and hitting the scoreboard when it mattered.

King Valley turned the tide in the third term, outplaying Benalla to take a 15-point lead into the final quarter.

But the Benalla boys weren’t done yet. In a gutsy and determined final term, the whole team lifted. Tom Levy was instrumental through the middle, crashing every contest and willing the team forward with relentless effort and intent.

His presence inspired the rest of the side, and in a dramatic finish, Benalla clawed their way back to secure a memorable victory. The entire team can be proud of this performance - a true character win that showed resilience, teamwork, and heart.

Score: Benalla 13.8 (86) def King Valley 13.5 (83)

Awards: Royal Hotel Award - Jesse Walker, Bill Bo Pop Award - Sam Cox, Sports Power Award - Tom Levy

Reserves

This week the boys went into the game full of confidence with a full team back in. Blake Marlborough shined through the midfield and forward line, with the first two quarters being quite an even contest.

David Whitechurch, as always, showed his experience with a cool head off the half back line, Tyrone Dellar was excellent in the ruck and was a real bull in the contest, creating a close game all day.

A motivated Panthers side stayed in the fight all day, unfortunately going down by 14 points.

Score: Benalla 6.8 (44) def by King Valley 9.5 (59)

Awards: Blake Marlborough - Tyrepower Award, David Whitechurch - Benalla Golf Club, Tyrone Dellar - Benalla Golf Club

Netball

A-grade

Benalla, bolstered by several fill-ins, led for most of the match before narrowly going down 45-49 in a tight finish.

A shift to smarter, structured play saw the team lift their standard, working the ball to the circle edge and controlling the tempo well—until King Valley edged ahead in the final quarter.

Under-17 star Eleanor Renkin impressed again with sharp drives, accurate feeds, and key intercepts across the court.

Fellow under-17 debutant Imogen Randell also shone, rotating through the midcourt and into defence with confidence and impact, with Andrea Hooker delivering a consistent four-quarter effort, providing steady midcourt support and helping drive transition play.

Score: Benalla 45 def by King Valley 49

Awards: Royal Hotel Award - Eleanor Renkin, Stella Stella Award - Imogen Randell, Benalla Racing Club Award - Andrea Hooker

B-grade

It was another tough match for All Blacks against a very tall and speedy King Valley side, with the result going the Valley’s way. This B-grade side continues to show resilience and determination each match giving their all week in, week out, no matter the scoreline.

Holly Robertson stood tall in the defensive end, her smart positioning for rebounds and persistent pressure over the ball disrupted King Valley’s flow in and around the ring time and time again.

Lilly Robertson had a welcomed return to the court this week, her continued effort in the attacking end combined with her speed and agility played a pivotal role throughout the game.

Kirsty Eastwood was a massive asset to the Panthers with her strong leads and fierce defensive pressure. Kirsty’s continued intensity throughout the entire match had a positive impact across both ends of the court with multiple turnovers and intercepts earning her best on court.

Score: Benalla 26 def by King Valley 45

Awards: Kirsty Eastwood - Tyre Power, Lilly Robertson - Bill Bo Pop, Holly Robertson - Benalla Racing Club

B-reserve

With just five regulars available, the All Blacks pulled off an impressive 54-22 win over King Valley, thanks to a gutsy team effort and some stellar fill-in support.

A big thanks to Holly Morrison, Mia Ely, Treena McNair, and rising stars Lola Crook and Harper Robertson for stepping up in style.

Holly Morrison was outstanding in centre, showing control, clean drives, and composure under pressure to earn best on court honours.

Mia Ely impressed in the midcourt with sharp feeds and later added goals with accuracy, combining well with Treena McNair in the ring. Down back, Kristy Hanrahan’s smart reading of the play and constant pressure kept King Valley at bay.

A brilliant team performance built on resilience, trust, and belief—this side is hitting its stride.

Score: Benalla 54 def King Valley 22

Awards: Holly Morrison – Harry Brown Award, Mia Ely – Hollywood’s Pizza, Kristy Hanrahan – Coffee Merchant Benalla

Under-17

The Benalla All Blacks junior netballers put up a spirited fight in their weekend clash against King Valley, showing plenty of promise in a closely contested first quarter.

However, as the match progressed, King Valley began to pull away, with the All Blacks unable to maintain the same level of control in the second half. Despite the final score not going their way, the Benalla side showed great determination and moments of brilliance throughout the game.

Eleanor Renkin was a standout for the All Blacks, earning best on court honours for her dynamic performance in goal attack. She shot with confidence and accuracy while also working hard defensively down the court to support her teammates.

Ruby Crook claimed second best on in the midcourt, delivering a tireless performance. She was key in both defence and attack, applying consistent pressure and directing play with maturity beyond her years.

Third best on went to Torah Heeps, who was once again a driving force through the centre. Her work rate and defensive hustle kept the All Blacks in the contest during critical passages of play.

While the scoreboard didn’t reflect their effort, the Benalla All Blacks showed plenty of heart and continue to develop as a unit, with strong individual performances pointing to a bright future.

Score: Benalla 22 def by King Valley 60

Awards: Eleanor Renkin - Terry White Pharmacy, Ruby Crook - All Blacks Award, Torah Heeps - McDonalds

Under-15

The under-15s welcomed King Valley on a cold and foggy morning. The team knew they would need to adjust to the conditions but still play strong.

The first quarter saw fantastic teamwork, with the ball moving from defence all the way into our attacking circle. Throughout the game, the girls were encouraged to keep up their hard work and reminded to continue playing their own game.

Harper Robertson was awarded the Hollywood’s Pizza Award for her role in GA, where she positioned herself beautifully in the ring alongside teammate Lola Crook, using her on-court communication to help direct the play.

Charli Levy earned the Benalla McDonald’s Award for her performance in WA. She stepped onto the court and applied Thursday night’s training, moving well and feeding beautifully into our goalers.

Down in defence, Emma Manning received the Spot 4 Ice Cream Award for her game in goal keeper. She read the ball beautifully, rebounded strongly, and re-offered effectively to move the ball down the court.

Once again, it was a great team performance, and everyone should be proud of their efforts.

Score: Benalla 61 def King Valley 31

Awards: Hollywood’s Pizza Award - Harper Robertson, Benalla McDonalds Award - Charli Levy, Spot 4 Icecream - Emma Manning

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Friday, 25th August 2023

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