Football

Longwood staged a miraculous comeback to steal a Kyabram District League senior football thriller over Stanhope on Saturday away from home, prevailing by a solitary point after coming home with a wet sail to clinch win five for the season.

Stanhope had all the ascendency in the first half, with an opening term returning 4.3 to Longwood’s 2.2, before piling on another four-goal-to-two second quarter to establish a 23-point lead at half-time.

But the Redlegs came out full of fire after the main break, slamming through four goals and cutting the margin back to two straight kicks by three-quarter time and, with all of the momentum, looked well-poised to run over the top of the Lions.

And that they did, with three goals in the final term enough to seal a remarkable one-point victory, prevailing 11.8 (74) to Stanhope’s 11.7 (73), and improving to 5-4 from their nine games this Kyabram District League season.

Brayden Klemke was the Redlegs’ best in the win, finding great support in skipper Dillon Hardy (one goal) and coach Jordan Formosa, while Flynn Cook, Rhys Cason (one goal) and Michael Celestin rounded out the most influential.

Shane Harvey kicked a game-high four goals, with Liam Edwards also contributing two, while George Chamouras, Josh Duncan and Dakota Pellegrino split the middle of the big sticks once to help their side to the stirring win.

Elsewhere on Saturday the top three sides enjoyed big wins to continue their strong campaigns to the halfway point of the season, with reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba remaining unbeaten on top following a 116-point thumping of Undera at Murchison Recreation Reserve.

A nine-goal opening term set the tone for the Hoppers, who piled on 20.12 (132) to Undera’s 2.4 (16), with Lachy Seddon best on in the win and James Lloyd at his punishing best up forward, slotting 10 majors to take his season tally to 58 from nine games.

Nagambie had an even bigger triumph over struggling Merrigum, saluting 26.19 (175) to 1.5 (11) at Merrigum Recreation Reserve.

Will Dalton brought up double figures for the Lakers with 10 majors, but was pipped for best-on by Trent Laverie, who slotted three himself in a complete performance that ensures Nagambie’s percentage sits at more than 200.

While the percentage boost could prove important come September, it had no immediate impact, with Lancaster claiming a solid win over Avenel to remain in second spot, level on wins with the Lakers but ahead due to superior percentage.

While the percentage boost could prove important come September, it had no immediate impact, with Lancaster claiming a solid win over Avenel to remain in second spot, level on wins with the Lakers but ahead due to superior percentage.

Lancaster kicked 10.25 (85) to Avenel’s 6.5 (41) in the victory and, while never looking like losing, squandered plenty of opportunities in front of the big sticks, with returns of 3.8 in the second term and 3.7 in the third term keeping Avenel in the contest.

Cameron Simpson (one goal) was Lancaster’s best in the win, with Zaid Besim not far behind after kicking an equal team-best three goals alongside Archer Guinan.

There were two fixtures on Sunday afternoon also, with Shepparton East claiming a 16.10 (106) win over Violet Town at Central Park Recreation Reserve, while Girgarre was beaten 4.6 (30) to 15.15 (105) by the visiting Rushworth at Girgarre Recreation Recreation Reserve.

Netball

Avenel’s bid for a spot in the 2025 Kyabram District League A-grade netball top six remains on pace following round nine, with the Swans comfortably accounting for 2024 grand finalist Lancaster away from home.

The Swans proved too classy for their opponent at Lancaster Recreation Reserve on Saturday, storming to a commanding 45-28 victory to improve to 5-3 from eight games, including a 4-1 record in their past five outings, to sit fifth at the midway point of the season.

With a touch of good fortune, the Swans could arguably be in the top three mix, given the combined margin across their three losses this season is six goals, with their competitiveness to this point a strong sign they will be there or thereabouts when the whips are cracking.

On the other hand, the loss continues Lancaster’s mediocre first half of the season, with the narrow defeat in last year’s decider looking a long way from where the Wombats find themselves in 2025.

With three wins to their name through nine rounds, the Wombats are in a battle to make the top six, currently in ninth and trailing sixth-placed Tallygaroopna by a game and percentage.

Across the other Saturday fixtures, Murchison-Toolamba pulled off a thrilling one-goal win over Undera, claiming the win 51-50 to leap to seventh on the ladder, possessing a 4-5 record through nine rounds.

The Hoppers have shown they know how to win close ones this season, having also knocked off Avenel in round seven by a goal, and will look to even up their record at 5-5 this week when they take on Tallygaroopna.

Stanhope is also knocking on the door of the top six following a nail-biting three-goal victory over Longwood at Stanhope Recreation Reserve, clinching a 41-38 victory to square up their win-loss record at 4-4 from eight games, while Nagambie continued its strong run of form with a 54-42 victory over Merrigum, extending its win streak to seven to consolidate second spot on the ladder behind Shepparton East.

On Sunday, Girgarre hosted Rushworth at Girgarre Recreation Reserve in a top four showdown, with the Tigers continuing their surprise resurgence to claim a 44-43 thriller, while Shepparton East continued its unbeaten start with a 52-27 win over Violet Town at Central Park Recreation Reserve.

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Tuesday, 20th May 2025

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