Hay Lions Netball Reports

Round 8 (21/6/2025) Hay vs Ultima, in Ultima

A Grade (by Ellen Parr)

Hay 62 defeated Ultima 59

Hay came out firing on Saturday against ladder rivals Ultima, determined to prove a point in a crucial clash. Sitting just one spot below their opponents on the table, Hay brought intensity from the opening whistle and surged to a 10-goal lead by quarter time. Their momentum didn’t slow in the second, with relentless attacking play and precision passing helping extend the lead to 17 goals by halftime. Strong leads through the midcourt and sharp feeding into the shooting circle were key in breaking down Ultima’s defence. But the tide began to turn in the third quarter. Ultima showed their trademark speed and fitness, chipping away at the margin with quick transitions and consistent pressure. Their dominance continued into the fourth, closing the gap and putting Hay on the back foot. Despite the late surge from Ultima, Hay dug deep in the final minutes. Regrouping under pressure, they tightened up their defence and showed poise to steady the ship and hold on for a nail-biting 3-goal win. There were plenty of positives to take from the performance, especially in the first half. The team’s ability to transition out of defence showed marked improvement, with turnovers consistently turned into goals thanks to accurate shooting under pressure. Awards: IGA’s Players’ Player & Lani Houston Consulting Umpires’ Award: Hannah Stewart, Jen’s Junk Award: Kellie Walker A gritty, determined win that shows Hay’s potential and lands them second on the ladder.

B Grade (by Bron Hicks)

Ultima 50 defeated Hay 38

The B grade team had a tough loss on Saturday against the Ultima side. From the very beginning Ultima’s pressure down the court was spot on, making the Hay girls work hard for every pass. Although Hay were able to move the ball well down the court, Ultima was off to a great start with an 8 goal lead by quarter time. Unfortunately, the second quarter saw the margin open up even more. The pressure from Ultima forced the Hay team to make many errors, and the Ultima shooters were able to convert Hay’s mistakes into goals with the half time score being 28-18. By the third quarter the Hay team adjusted some positions to try and break Ultima’s rhythm. This allowed Hay to narrow the margin to 6, however were unable to sustain their momentum, and the Ultima team again dominated with a 12-goal lead by three quarter time. Lani Houstin (Busch Family Coach’s Award) worked beautifully in GD, getting several rebounds and intercepts as well as communicating well with her teammates. The fourth quarter saw the Hay team attempt to reset by going back to their original positions. Young gun, Sienna Lund (Mark McKeon Earthmoving award) was a pivotal player for the team, moving confidently around the ring and shooting 21 of Hay’s goals alongside her Mum, Lisa. Teagan Morrison (Saltbush Stretch Best on Court) was once again a key player for the Hay team, and her great contributions in defence meant that Ultima was only able to score 9 goals in the last quarter, the same amount as Hay. Final score Hay 38 defeated by Ultima 50.

B Reserve Grade (by Leonnie Laracy)

Hay 47 defeated Ultima 39

BR had an intense game against 2nd on the ladder but drew on past experience to get them through the rough spots and take away an 8 goal win of 47-39. Kylie Brettschneider was tireless in C, pushing through the midcourt, intercepting and delivering passes as required with precision. Kylie was awarded both the New Crown Hotel award and the Players Players Cup. Leslee Grahme put on a rebounding show and never allowed Ultima any second chances and took out the Fraser Dwyer Electrical award, while Hannah Jamieson was showing maturity above her years, holding her ground and shooting goals from any distance and deservingly won the Heath Busch Trailers award.

C Grade (by Leonnie Laracy)

Hay 51 defeated Ultima 40

C grade had a good start and took a nice early lead until Ultima made a comeback to tie it up at one point. Kodi Scott composed herself and took it upon herself to again retake the lead and keep it, her work ethic was at 100% and was awarded the Players Player cup. Lucy Shea was asked to fill a number of positions and outplayed each of her players earning the New Crown Hotel award, while Emily Taylor worked overtime in WA, delivering some exceptional balls into goals for conversion. A great team effort taking away a win of 51-40.

Under 17's (by Jade Auldist)

Hay 53 defeated Ultima 40

After a tough loss last week, the U17s were fired up and ready to reset. Determined to get their rhythm back, they hit the court with intensity from the first whistle. The defensive pressure was on early, with a standout performance from Emily Caughey at Goal Defence. Tasked with shutting down Ultima’s key Goal Attack, Emily’s tight marking, timely intercepts, and ability to read the play disrupted their attacking flow and set the tone defensively. The attacking line moved with confidence, and accurate shooting paired with sharp drives saw them take a strong 15–8 lead at quarter time. By halftime, they’d extended that to 28–17. Ultima responded in the third, closing the margin to just four goals at one stage, but the girls held strong. Regrouping in the final quarter, the team pushed ahead with clean passages of play and full-court pressure to claim a well-earned 53–40 win. Jade Doidge was awarded the Peter Mullins Building Coach’s Award for applying pressure and chasing down loose balls, Jade gave 100% every minute she was on court and didn’t let the physical nature of the contest shake her focus. Emily Taylor faced a challenging matchup at Wing Attack, coming up against a physical defender. But Emily kept her cool, adjusted her movement, and continued to deliver clean, sharp feeds into the circle. Her smart drives, patience with the ball, and consistent effort earned her both the Murrumbidgee Real Estate Players’ Player award and the Hay High Achievers Best on Court award.

Under 14's (by Lani Houston)

Hay 43 defeated Ultima 32

The Hay girls have been keen to improve their first quarter energy and they brought this to the Ultima match in abundance, winning the first quarter 10-3. Hay’s defensive pressure in the circle and all the way down the court was impressive. The new attacking unit of Rachael Taylor (Lions Canteen Best on shooting 22 goals) and Lyla Swan (A & L Lund Coaches Award) combined perfectly with both girls moving stealthy through their defence to get balls in perfect shooting positions and then shooting accurately. Rhyla Bunyan (KROP Players Player) came into the attacking unit at GA and used her strong leads and double dodges to help feed balls into the circle and position herself for some great goals. All girls played well and supported each other in different positions showcasing what a cohesive and adaptable team they are. An impressive win 43-32 at the final bell, our highest score this season. Great effort girls!

Under 12’s (by Leonnie Laracy)

Hay 21 defeated Ultima 9

Hay settled in well against Ultima and got off to a great lead with accurate shots and smart footwork from Maeve Harrison earning her the Sarah Bunyan’s Hairdressing award. Halle Laracy was excellent in defence. Her quick reflexes intercepted many balls and earned her the M & S Bus Services award, while Nina Schiller was fantastic through the mid court connecting one end to the other. Everyone played well and were thrilled with their 21-9 victory.