Netball
18 June, 2025
Saints overcome Demons
Edenhope Apsley delivered Laharum their second straight defeat in A grade netball, winning 54-49 in round nine of the Horsham District Football Netball League on Saturday.
In a stunning come-from-behind effort, the Saints came back from 11 goals down early in the second quarter to prevail over the defending champions.
After Edenhope got off to an early lead, Laharum elevated their intensity on both sides of the ball to lead 19-11 after the first quarter.
However, increased defensive pressure and accurate goalscoring saw Edenhope reduce the gap in the middle quarters, Laharum leading 27-23 and 38-37 at half-time and three-quarter-time, respectively.
Edenhope started the fourth quarter with four straight goals and never relinquished the lead after that, holding off some surges from the Demons.
Lavinia Fox, coach of Edenhope Apsley, said she was happy with the result.
“I'm really proud of the group,” Fox said.
“Laharum, along with Rupanyup, are the benchmark of the competition at the moment, and to have been able to beat them really shows the potential of our team.”
Speaking on the comeback after being 11 goals down, Fox said an elevation in intensity and defensive pressure helped ignite the fightback.
“They had two moving goalers so we made a change there and I think we just wanted to stay with it as much as we could, kept contesting,” Fox said.
“We started to turn a corner and actually started generating some intercepts just through keeping that dogged one-on-one defence.
“We had a lot of composure in those moments too because it's always one thing to get the intercept, but then another to get the goal.
“We then looked after the ball and just chipped away at the scoreboard.”
For Edenhope, Dee Dee Lambert and Jasmine McIntyre were nominated as best players, with Lambert shooting an impressive 41 goals.
For Laharum, Courtney Taylor and Olivia Jones were best on court, with Taylor making 26 of Laharum’s goals.
Fox had high praise for McIntyre’s performance.
“Jasmine McIntyre had the best game I've seen her play all year – she was amazing,” Fox said.
“She's also playing in our 17s this year, and she just really stood up and generated some momentum for us, which we were just desperate for in that second quarter.”
The result elevates Edenhope Apsley to third on the league ladder, while Rupanyup have passed Laharum at the top of the table.
In other A grade netball results, Kalkee defeated Natimuk 51-30, Rupanyup overpowered Harrow Balmoral 58-22, Swifts defeated Kaniva Leeor 50-35 and Noradjuha Quantong beat Pimpinio 57-39 to remain in sixth.