Sport
10 September, 2025
Thunder bow out but with heads held high
It was an early start for Southern Mallee Thunder's under 13 players, parents, and supporters as we hit the road for our first semi-final.
In wet and windy conditions, our girls took to the court eager to play another great game, building on the momentum from the previous weekend’s win.
We knew we were in for a tough contest against a tall Horsham Saints side.
However, the girls remained calm, Emily securing the first goal of the game, and the crowd was a sea of Thunder colours, cheering loud and proud.
Our goalies, Emily and Felicity, were moving beautifully in the circle, working hard to find space and finish strongly.
Sophie and Pippa S used plenty of voice and consistently re-offered around the ring, keeping the attack end connected.
In defence, Elka, Pippa F and Mia worked tirelessly, gaining many touches and forcing turnovers to keep us in the game.
Quarter-time score: Thunder 6 – Saints 9
In the second quarter Amelia took the court at wing defence and immediately made an impact, reading the play well and converting a turnover into a Thunder goal.
While the Saints began to stretch their lead, Mia and Pippa F worked in sync to apply pressure and keep their tall shooter from dominating the circle.
Emma S rotated into goalkeeper, applying excellent defensive pressure and forcing errors.
Half-time score: Thunder 11 – Saints 22
A heavy shower of rain slowed the pace in the third quarter but our girls never backed down.
The Thunder crowd stayed strong, lifting the team with every cheer.
Elka, Pippa S, and Sophie were dynamic through the midcourt, collecting many touches and pushing the ball forward.
Three-quarter-time score: Thunder 15 – Saints 34
In the final 12 minutes of our season, with the score ending Saints 40 – Thunder 22, the girls held their heads high.
They never gave up and gave everything until the final whistle.
Jayne and I were incredibly proud of their determination, teamwork, and spirit.
Final score: Horsham Saints 40 defeated SM Thunder 22
Awards: KMC Award – Pippa Fisher; Lanes & Games Award – Sophie Frankel; Sweat Towel – Pippa Shannon; Coach's Award – Felicity Keller
As this is our final 13 and under report for 2025, Jayne and I want to thank every one of the 13s girls who participated this season.
Each of you has grown and developed as netballers and we’re excited to see what you bring in the years to come.
To the parents, thank you for all your support, for scoring, timing, PCing and for getting the girls to training and games each week.
We couldn’t have done it without you.
To our A grade buddies, our girls have absolutely loved your guidance and support throughout the season.
You've made a lasting impact.
A grade
Southern Mallee Thunder’s A grade side saw their 2025 finals campaign come to a end on Sunday, going down by two goals, 38-40, in a nail-biting elimination final against the Dimboola Roos.
Thunder came out strong from the first whistle, forcing a number of turnovers in Dimboola's attack, but Dimboola's full-court pressure made it difficult to convert.
The Thunder attack were able to sneak to a three goal lead heading into the first break, led by a sharp-shooting Steph Thomson in goals.
Midway through the second quarter their defensive pressure intensified, with Sydney Thorogood (GK) and Abby White (GD) shutting down the Roos’ shooting circle.
Their relentless effort in defence helped Thunder to a five-goal buffer at half-time and momentum looked to be firmly in their favour.
The third quarter, however, saw a spirited response from Dimboola, who lifted their intensity and began to claw their way back into the contest.
The Roos’ defensive duo applied pressure on every pass and unforced errors began to creep into Thunder’s play.
In a gripping final quarter, the sides went goal-for-goal but it was Dimboola who managed two early turnovers to edge ahead and then maintain the lead in the final minutes.
Despite a last push from the Thunder midcourt, the siren sounded with Dimboola narrowly ahead, claiming a 40-38 win and advancing to the next stage of the finals.
It was a valiant performance from the Thunder, who left everything on the court.
Standout performers included Sydney Thorogood, who was rock-solid under the post with timely intercepts and rebounds; Abby White, who applied relentless pressure and read the play superbly in defence; and Steph Thomson, who held her nerve in goals and kept Thunder in the contest with accurate shooting under pressure.
Final score: Dimboola Roos 40 defeated SM Thunder 38
Awards:Cropsmart – Sydney Thorogood; Mick Foott Transport – Abby White; Sassi Beauty Bar – Steph Thomson