Player-co-coach Jemma Hall has lead a resurgence at Lancaster so far this campaign.
A dominant Lancaster performance and Rushworth’s first defeat of the year featured in the latest round of Kyabram District League netball.
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The Round
Lancaster 55 d Longwood 17
Murchison-Toolamba 46 d Undera 20
Violet Town 26 lt Merrigum 42
Rushworth 34 lt Shepparton East 53
Stanhope 27 lt Girgarre 46
Tallygaroopna 51 d Avenel 27
Nagambie bye
Lancaster vs Longwood
The lower table Redlegs had no answer for a Wombats side that has been a revelation this season.
Looking to return to the heights of 2024, Lancaster swept Longwood aside 55-17.
One of four sides to have given up fewer than 100 goals through three matches, Lancaster has shown plenty of quality in its 2-1 start, only dropping a competitive game to last year’s unbeaten premier Shepparton East.
Off-season recruiting, as well as a new coaching team of Jemma Hall and Raz Hilton, has paid dividends so far for the Wombats, who sit in third place early on.
The Wombats head to Avenel, also 2-1, for their next fixture.
Rushworth vs Shepparton East
The defending champion had a little too much in the tank for a resilient Rushworth side.
The Eagles displayed the quality that led them to the championship last season, accounting for a Tigers side that had made a promising start to its campaign 53-34.
Rushworth now declines to 2-1, slipping back into fifth spot after earlier securing respectable wins over Nagambie and Stanhope.
The Tigers go on the road this Saturday, facing another test against the currently unbeaten Merrigum.
Stanhope vs Girgarre
Girgarre got off the mark after a slow start to the year.
A difficult start to the season for the Roos turned upwards, as the side record its first win of the campaign in Stanhope.
The Lions couldn’t muster the offence needed to trouble Girgarre, held below 30 goals for the third consecutive time to start the season, as the Roos prevailed 46-27.
Stanhope sits at the bottom of the ladder by differential after starting 0-3, while Girgarre moves up to ninth after scoring its first win, improving to 1-2.
Both sides are set for challenging fixtures this week, Girgarre hosting Nagambie and Stanhope travelling to Shepparton East.
Violet Town vs Merrigum
Merrigum moved into outright second place on the ladder, scoring a comfortable win over Violet Town on the road.
The Bulldogs dispatched the Towners 42-26, advancing to two wins and a draw for the year and now trailing only premier Shepparton East on the league table.
Merrigum has so far mustered the best defence in the league, giving up only 79 goals over three matches.
Next up, the Bulldogs take on 2025 preliminary finalist Rushworth at home in an anticipated clash that could prove crucial to the tone of both side’s seasons.
Murchison-Toolamba vs Undera
It’s not a good season to be a Lion in A-grade this year, Undera joining fellow Lions outfit Stanhope at 0-3 after suffering defeat to Murchison-Toolamba.
The Hoppers leapt past Undera on their home court, securing a 46-20 win.
Undera currently has the unwanted distinction of worst attack in the competition, scoring just 70 goals across three fixtures, but the Lions still sit narrowly above Stanhope in 12th place.
Undera is back at home in the next round, battling Tallygaroopna (1-1-1).
In the remaining fixture of round four, Tally picked up a victory over Avenel 51-27, while Nagambie sat out this week with the bye.
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