The captain combined with Monique Williams at the Bombers’ defensive end to restrict Benalla to only 18 second-half goals after the teams were tied on 22-apiece at half time.
A 10-goal win came after Micaela Herbert, already with 45 goals to her credit in an 11-goal B-grade victory, came onto the court at quarter time and shared a productive final three quarters with Natasha Dodos.
Herbert took on the goal shooter’s responsibility, allowing the athletic Dodos to play further up the court. Herbert finished with 21 goals and Dodos 28 goals (the other came from Maia Roberts) in the 50-40 victory.
Dodos shot all but one of the Bombers’s 11 first quarter goals and by three quarter time there was only four goals in the game - in favour of Kyabram.
Nine players were used in the win, Ava Pell starting at wing defence (having already played a full Under-17 game) before being replaced by Caitie Minger at half time.
Isla Carver and Williams were the other stars for Kyabram as they ended a nine week losing streak in resounding style.
Kyabram’s respite will, however, be short lived as they face fourth-ranked Echuca this weekend.
– Kyabram led by just one goal at quarter time of the B-grade game, but by the final siren had registered a second win for the season.
Herbert had 25 of her team’s 27 half time goals as Kyabram led by seven goals at half time. The margin was extended to 10 by the final change, but only one goal separated the teams in the second half.
A dislocated shoulder for defender Ali Hall meant Monique Williams had to play eight quarters for the day, combining with Courtney Mason in defence to lead the team to victory.
Goal attack Hannah Newman, while shooting just nine goals for the match, was a star contributor to the final result - a 54-43 Kyabram victory.
– With a 5-5 record the Kyabram B-Reserve outfit sits only percentage outside the top six, taking a five goal win against the fourth-ranked team at Kyabram Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The Bombers sit seventh on the ladder, but are just one game behind Benalla, the team they beat by five goals (43-38) on Saturday.
A 22 goal first half from Elli Kiker, working in tandem with Abbey Watson, saw the Bombers in front by six goals at half time.
That margin was cut to four when Benalla won the third term by two and a see-sawing final term saw the Bombers home without much fuss.
Kiker was presented with plenty of opportunities by Rachel McCormack and centre Laura Papalia, while Tearna Filbey worked in tandem with Taleera Depasquale to restrict Benalla’s opportunities.
The team has 10th-ranked Echuca this week, before facing third-ranked Rochester in a big test which could influence its place in the top six at season’s end.
Kyabram used nine players in the game, Ebony Arnold spending three quarters in defence after replacing Shani Clark early in the game.
– Kyabram’s Under-17 team sits inside the top six after producing its most dominant display of the season with a 52-goal win against Benalla.
Jemae Miller was a star in the goaling circle, working with Rose Cunningham in the first half to give the team a 25 goal half time lead.
Miller finished the game with 27 goals, with Cunningham and Ava Pell sharing responsibility for the remaining 38 goals as the team won 65-13.
In the next two weeks they will need to repeat the form they showed on the weekend as they come up against fifth-ranked Echuca and Rochester, which sits fourth on the ladder.
Pell started at centre, but moved to shooter and Mia Stockdale had a quarter in the key mid-court role. Key defender, and captain, Stella Trezise continued her strong season and combined with both Grace Kilpatrick and Grace Burnett to restrict the opposition to a losing total.
– The most thrilling game of the day was the Under-15 contest, ninth ranked Kyabram beating the eighth-placed Benalla by one goal.
Kyabram led by two at quarter time, courtesy of 11 goals from Ella Hooper. She followed that up with a 12-goal quarter and the Bombers led by six at half time.
That margin was cut to one by three quarter time and a surge by Benalla saw them finish only one goal behind the Bombers - Kyabram winning its third game of the season 43-42.
Mia Stockdale was her team’s best player in the centre, while Melia Child’s first half was outstanding and Ruby Barker continued her great season in defence.
The team faces top of the ladder Echuca this weekend in their biggest test of the season.
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