Netball
29 July, 2025
Taylors Lake hold off Kaniva as top sides dominate
In a day highlighted by strong wins by A grade netball’s top four teams, Taylors Lake held off a determined Kaniva Leeor United on Saturday in round 15 action of the Horsham District Football Netball League.
Playing in rainy conditions on a wet surface at Taylors Lake, players were restricted from playing a more free-flowing game as the conditions induced more mistakes and tougher contests.
Little separated the Lakers and the Cougars in the opening period as both sides played out a 10-10 first quarter.
Taylors Lake were able to capitalise on the turnovers in the second quarter, and along with some impressive defence, the home side took a 19-14 lead at half-time.
Despite impressive passages of play from the Lakers, Kaniva Leeor stayed within reach, with accurate shooting helping to keep them in the contest.
The Cougars reduced the lead to three goals late in the fourth before a crucial intercept and subsequent goal sealed the win for the Lakers.
Harriet Overman led scoring for Taylors Lake with 16 goals, with Olivia Revell and Zoe Gray impressing at the defensive end.
For Kaniva Leeor, Ellen Bennett was a standout while shooters Ruby Gordon and Tahlia Pearson knocked down 18 and 17 goals, respectively.
Taylors Lake coach Sharon Fedke praised her side’s improved finish compared to their close loss to Harrow Balmoral a fortnight earlier.
“We lost to Harrow two weeks ago by a goal in wet conditions and the girls didn’t cope with it very well,” Fedke said.
“So we’ve focused a lot on that in the last two weeks and doing stuff so that we have the control we need to withstand teams that come back hard at us.
“And that’s what happened yesterday: we couldn’t really shake Kaniva but I was proud of the way the girls stood up and withstood that run to get the win.”
In what Fedke described as a "messy game", the Lakers coach emphasised the need to stay composed in challenging conditions, which her side managed for the most part.
“The skill level just drops down so much in the wet and it’s just not pretty to watch,” Fedke said.
“I've worked really hard with the girls on their change of direction and all the footwork that you can do on a dry court, and all of a sudden you've got a wet court and that all just goes straight out the window because you can't get that traction to be able to change direction.
“It just adds another dynamic to the game of how you have to play.
“On a day like Saturday when it was so wet, you do need to just make sure of every single pass and everything you do so that you're giving yourself every opportunity to get it into the goal ring and then hopefully get a goal out of it.”
At Kalkee, Paula Wiedermann put in a standout performance in her 250th game, shooting 35 goals as the Kees easily defeated Pimpinio 66-20.
At Laharum, the Demons beat a determined Swifts outfit 53-34, with Emalie and Maddison Iredell putting in standout performances for the reigning premiers.
At Edenhope, a 19-point third quarter allowed the Saints to pull away from Noradjuha Quantong as they finished 63-42 winners.
Dee Dee Lamber led the scoring with 35 goals from 41 attempts while Taya Quick shot an impressive 34 goals for the Bombers.
At Natimuk, league leaders Rupanyup were able to end Natimuk’s five-game win streak, putting in a strong four-quarter effort to come out 65-31 victors.
Goal shooter Zanaiya Bergen continued her strong season in goals, hitting a round-high 47 goals.
With losses by Noradjuha Quantong, Natimuk United and the Swifts, these three teams remain entrenched in a three-way battle for the fifth finals spot.