Pair of netball wins the highlight as All Blacks suffer tough outing against Milawa

Despite being severely undermanned, the team showed plenty of heart and resilience throughout the game. Kieran Linke led the way with a determined effort, playing both on the wing and in defence.

Jesse Walker continued his impressive form with another standout performance on the wing, showing plenty of run and effort. In the middle, Tom Levy was a brute force, battling hard all day and refusing to back down.

While the scoreboard didn’t reflect the effort, Benalla’s commitment and attitude in tough conditions were a credit to the group in another tough outing.

Score: Benalla 2.1 (13) def by Milawa 35.11 (221)

Awards: Tyrepower Award - Kieran Linke, Stella Stella award - Jesse Walker, Royal Hotel Award - Tom Levy

Reserves

This week we travelled to Milawa knowing it was going to be a tough day, only taking 16 into the game.

With Milawa lending a player each quarter, the boys battled hard and didn’t give up all day. Mack Bodsworth and Jordan Smith tried their best to stem the flow of goals down back.

Blake Marlborough kicked a couple of goals and David Whitechurch was all over the ground doing what he does best, with his experience and calm head.

After a long day the boys ended up going down buy a huge margin of 189 points.

Score: Benalla 2.2 (14) def by Milawa 32.11 (203)

Awards: Mack Bodsworth - Royal Hotel Award, Jordan Smith - Golden Barber, David Whitechurch - Benalla Golf Club

Netball

A-grade

Facing top-of-the-table Milawa was always going to be tough, and with several players out, Benalla had an even steeper hill to climb.

They held strong in the first half, trailing just 30–21 at the break. Further changes in the second half disrupted their rhythm, and Milawa pulled away to win 76–41.

Milawa's cohesion and skill were evident, showcasing why they're at the top of the ladder, as well as great sportsmanship.

Georgia Spencer delivered an exceptional shooting performance. Defensively, Jessie Ellis made crucial intercepts, while Elyse Felstead's strong positioning and clean intercepts kept the pressure on Milawa. Andrea Hooker worked tirelessly in wing defence, and Ang brought energy and creativity in wing attack during the final quarter.

Despite the loss, Benalla's resilience and determination were evident, offering hope for future matches.

Score: Benalla 41 def by Milawa 76

Awards: TyrePower Award - Jessie Ellis, Bill Bo Pop Award - Elyse Felstead, Benalla Racing Club Award - Andrea Hooker

B-grade

The Benalla Panthers faced a tough match against Milawa on the weekend, going down 26–64 in a challenging encounter. Despite being short a few key players, the Panthers showed resilience and heart on the court.

A big thank you goes to Ellex Best who stepped up into the WD position and impressed with some timely intercepts. Keira Brown also made the leap from the under-17s to fill the GS role, standing tall under the post and shooting beautifully throughout the game.

Mel Reaper demonstrated a steady and calm presence throughout the game, showcasing her reliability and composure under pressure. Mel’s consistent play and leadership as always, anchored the team under the relentless attack of the opposition.

Kodi Mustey had a standout game in the shooting circle, showing increased confidence and fluid movement, adjusting well to different attacking combinations.

Amber McIntyre delivered a solid performance in the midcourt, guiding the team with accurate passes and strong communication.

Score: Benalla 26 def by Milawa 64

Awards: Royal Hotel - Mel Reaper, Terry White - Kodi Mustey, SportsPower - Amber McIntyre

B-reserve

All Blacks hit the court with steely focus and a clear sense of purpose, knowing they’d need to bring their absolute best to overcome an in-form Milawa side—and that’s exactly what they did.

From the first centre pass, it was clear this was going to be a battle. The opening quarter saw both teams trade blows in an evenly matched contest, neither willing to give an inch.

Brooke Bradshaw stepped up with commanding strength and poise in the attacking circle, leading with her trademark composure. She provided a calming presence for Bec Mathieson and Bri McNair, working beautifully to create space and capitalise with composed finishes under pressure.

As the game moved into the second quarter, the All Blacks' defensive unit took centre stage. Taitum Hemming and Kristy Hanrahan were unstoppable in the backline, reading the play with precision and executing clean, timely interceptions. Their defensive connection was simply flawless.

Mid-court powerhouses Chloe Dods, Jo Gall and Ellex Best were relentless, cutting off Milawa’s momentum at every turn and ensuring there were no easy passes or scoring opportunities. Their hustle and grind fed directly into defensive setups, which were rewarded with crucial turnovers.

This victory was more than just four points—it was a huge confidence boost for a team that showed resilience, determination and trust in one another across all four quarters. Every player left it all out on the court and the win was richly deserved.

Score: Benalla 34 def Milawa 31

Awards: Harry Brown - Brooke Bradshaw, Royal Hotel - Chloe Dods, Coffee Merchant - Jo Gall

Under-17

Benalla All Blacks put in a determined effort against Milawa on Saturday, eventually going down 39-19 in a tough contest.

The score doesn’t reflect how closely matched the teams were in the first half, with just six goals separating them at the main break.

Keira Brown had a great game, showing versatility across both ends. Her strong holds and ability to adjust to tight defensive pressure made her a key target in the ring early on. Being placed into goal keeper for the final quarter, Keira made an immediate impact, showing she’s just as strong in defence with tight pressure and solid rebounding.

Returning from injury, Imogen Randell hit the court with confidence and made her presence felt straight away. Coming on in defence, she was quick to meet her player and disrupt Milawa’s entry into the goal circle. Her work rate down the court was huge, helping to transition the ball out of defence and keep Benalla in the contest.

Isabella Lowry also impressed, particularly with her strong leads out of the back line, great hands over pressure and disciplined defence down the court.

While the result didn’t fall their way, the All Blacks showed determination and promising signs of development against a well-matched opponent.

Score: Benalla 19 def by Milawa 39

Awards: Hollywoods Pizza - Keira Brown, All Blacks - Imogen Randell, McDonald’s - Isabella Lowry

Under-15

After a bye last week that saw the girls slip on the ladder, the U15s knew they had to come out firing against Milawa — and wow, did they deliver.

It was an absolutely incredible team performance from start to finish, with every player giving 110 per cent and sticking to the game plan.

Libby Renkin was an absolute wall in defence. She stood her ground against a tall and accurate shooter, using strong body-on-body pressure to shut down the space and not allow the shooter to set up. Libby got hands to so many balls and was instrumental in turning over play.

Darcie Jackson faced a physical opponent but didn’t let it rattle her. She held her own with great composure, kept her head high, and went for everything, while her ability to create space and impact both defensively and offensively was outstanding.

Harper Robertson led from the front. She faced tall and tough defenders but didn’t back down, making smart decisions, creating space, and wasn’t afraid to send in a long bomb when the opportunity came. Her leadership on court was so impressive.

The girls played as a true team — they listened, supported each other and gave it their all. A massive step in the right direction as we push toward finals.

Score: Benalla 44 def Milawa 35

Awards: Hollywoods Pizza - Libby Renkin, McDonald’s - Darcie Jackson, Spot for Ice Cream - Harper Robertson