Prime challengers
Noradjuha-quantong has snuck up on the top end of the Horsham District competition in the back end of the season. But perhaps that should not have been the case. The Bombers ended the 2021 season second, just below minor premiers Laharum, after jostling with and beating Harrow-balmoral to be the Demons’ prime premiership challenger.
They lost to the Southern Roos in a round one reverse of the Bombers’ recent form against the blue-and-white before a three-win run of victories against Natimuk United, Edenhope-apsley and Pimpinio.
The win against the Saints was a valuable one and should give the Bombers confidence if they beat the Storm this weekend and meet the charging Saints in week two.
Their 23-goal loss to Laharum in round five was probably the Bombers’ worst of the year. With the Demons getting off to a flyer, curtailing the chance for Bombers’ shooter Shannon Couch to have an offensive impact, and never giving the Bombers a chance to get their foot in the door – the game was over before half time.
But once again, the Bombers rallied and defeated Kaniva-leeor United and Kalkee in successive weeks.
The victory against Kalkee was convincing and it included a brilliant 21 goal to 10 third-quarter effort from the Bombers, who were able to pocket a win against the season’s minor premiers.
They backed this up later in the year when they defeated the Kees again in round 15 – this time by only four points, in a lowscoring match at Quantong.
But again, a one-goal loss to Jeparit-rainbow in round 11 was another four points gone astray – points that, if collected, could have sneaked the Bombers an outright toptwo spot and a double chance this finals series. With a capacity to beat the best and lose to the median, the Bombers are a wildcard this year if nothing for the fact they are the only side to beat Kalkee during the home-and-away season – and that has to count for something.
Senior netball coach Fiona Rowe, during pre-season, said while finals was the Bombers’ goal this year, its leaders were keen to wait until the season got underway before making a more presumptuous call about their 2022 fortunes.
“This year we are about creating a dynamic where we can all push each other on and off the court. We want to challenge each other to be better netballers and better team players, too,” she said.
Now the season is over and with ample proof the Bombers could match or beat the league’s best when they get on song, they could well be there on the last weekend of the season.