Shepparton’s Kim Borger shoots over Echuca’s Ashlea Hare.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Shepparton has recorded its second loss of 2026 after falling to heavyweight opponent Echuca on Saturday.
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The Bears held home court advantage against the Murray Bombers, but both sides entered the Goulburn Valley League A-grade fixture evenly poised with identical 6-1 records.
However, a fast-starting Echuca had the Bears playing catch-up for the majority of the match, as Belinda Lees and Sheridan Townrow shared the scoring load in the goal circle.
Shepparton stalwart Kim Borger and goal attack Ruby Higgins put the ball through the hoop where they could, but Echuca’s Lees and Townrow had multiple unanswered scoring bursts to grab an eight-goal lead at quarter-time.
That scoring avalanche continued into the second term, with Rose Byrne jumping into the goals for Echuca, a further seven goals extending the lead to 15.
Borger got the scoreboard moving to begin the second half, but a five-goal stretch unanswered by Townrow placed the Bears on the ropes again.
The Murray Bombers would then exchange goals with Shepparton back and forth until close to three-quarter time, but another burst of scoring by the visitors upped the advantage to a whopping 21 goals at the final change of ends.
Echuca would take the foot off the throat marginally in the final term, allowing Borger and Higgins to find more opportunities in the goal circle, but the final result was never in doubt – a 50-66 loss for the Bears on home soil.
Shepparton's Kimberly Borger looks to feed the ball.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Shepparton's Ruby Higgins makes an attacking pass.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Shepparton's Keeley O'Dwyer leaps to block Echuca's Sheridan Townrow.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Shepparton’s Kimberly Borger shoots over Echuca’s Ashlea Hare.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Shepparton's Bree Robinson looks for options in the attacking third.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Echuca's Belinda Lees takes possession.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Echuca's Rose Byrne makes a pass.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Echuca's Kate Head looks for a long-range target.
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JORDAN TOWNROW
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Echuca's Lauren Jones inbounds the ball.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Shepparton's Lily Byers gets the ball rolling in transition.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
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Echuca won the Karen Johnson Memorial Trophy.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Borger and Higgins nearly had an even split in scoring, with 26 and 24 goals respectively, while Townrow’s 29 and Lees’ 27 set the tone for the Murray Bombers at Deakin Reserve.
Around the league, Shepparton Swans secured a 12-goal win over Mansfield 46-34, Shepparton United recorded a rout over Kyabram 17-88, while Rochester fired to its second win of 2026, defeating Benalla 57-29.
Euroa assured itself two months of unbeaten netball as it scored a 62-37 win over Tatura in the wet, while Mooroopna languished Seymour to a spot outside the top six, maintaining a record with only one loss in its 46-33 victory.
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