Sport

15 July, 2026

Bloods too strong for Bombers

IN wet conditions at Terang on Saturday, Terang Mortlake was too strong for Cobden, winning the round 12 Hampden League senior football clash by 33 points.

After scores were level at quarter time, the Bloods kicked away to register a 9.10.64 to 4.7.31 win.

“We probably didn’t make the most of a few opportunities in the first quarter,” Cobden coach Brody Mahoney said.

“Then in the second quarter, we thought we did quite well considering the strength of the breeze going that way.

“Probably the difference was the third quarter when it got really wet, they managed to kick a couple against it again; they kicked against the breeze for the day, which was a really good effort considering how strong it was.”

As the weather set in, scoring became hard in the final term, with the Bombers kicking four behinds to the Bloods’ one.

“It was pretty grim in the end, it wouldn’t have been good to watch, there would’ve been more kicks off the ground than people picking up and kicking in the last quarter.

“But there were a few positives for our boys to take out of it, just their ability to score against the breeze and their run and carry was really good, that probably got them over the line against us.”

Matthew Kemp was Cobden’s best in the loss.

“Matty’s been super since he’s got his body right, he’s really been showing his class.

“His form has been fantastic, he’s finding a heap of it, his tackling pressure is great and he’s even been hitting the scoreboard.”

Joe Hutt, Sam Thow, Blake Mottram and Archie Taylor were also in Cobden’s best, with Mahoney full of praise for Hutt’s performance.

“Joey’s been in our best six to 10 most weeks, he really plays his role, with the conditions how they were he just simplified it and played to his strengths, his one on one and contested work was fantastic all day.

“He’s made a huge step up from being a consistent reserves player two years ago to pretty much playing seniors all of last year to now being one of the first picked.”

This week Cobden will host Hamilton at the Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve.

“The boys are super keen to jump straight into this week, we’ve just got to take each week as it comes and try to scrape as many wins together as we can in the next six weeks.

“While finals are probably out of the question now, there’s still plenty to play for, for a young group like ours, and as many wins for our development as we can because we know we’re not too far away.”

The reserves match saw Cobden record a 7.16.58 to 1.5.11 victory.

Best for the Bombers in the win were Sam Darcy, Lachlan Rosolin, Tom Mahony, Noah Sinnott, Brodie Foster and Kayleb Bignell.

Ryan Mottram was the only multiple goal kicker with three.

In the under 18s, Terang Mortlake scored a 15.9.99 to 3.8.26 win.

Lennie Walsh, Rusty Ponting and Micah Darcy were the Bombers best, with Darcy, Jasper Fraser and Harrison Glennen kicking a goal each.

In the under 16s at Cobden on Sunday, the home team scored its first win of 2026, 3.10.28 to 3.7.25.

Ace Roberts, Fred Dean and Cooper Unwin were best for Cobden in the win, with Fletcher White kicking two goals and Unwin one.

Terang Mortlake scored a 4.8.32 to 0.4.4 win in the under 14 football.

Ted Darcy, Fletcher White and Jack Bourke were best for the Bombers in the loss.

In the under 12s, Terang Mortlake were too strong, running out 3.7.25 to 0.0.0 winners.

Harry White, Maxwell Hutt and Joshua Fleming were the junior Bombers best.

The Open netball also saw Cobden score a vital 45-38 win to move into third place.

“It was a really important win in the context of the season,” Cobden coach Nadine McNamara said.

“We were defeated by three goals last time we played them so it was great to see some improvement within the group and hopefully sets us up for a solid back end of the season; it’s important to win those middle-of-the-table clashes.”

Jessica McGlade and Grace Taylor were Cobden’s best in the win.

“Jess started in wing defence and then moved to goal defence, her elevation and vision within the goal circle was instrumental in us turning over the ball.

“Grace started in goal attack and then shifted to centre, I thought she provided a lot of composure and a lot of high work rate when the game got incredibly close throughout the last quarter.”

Emily Finch and Nikki Clover combined for 40 goals, Finch shooting 23 and Clover 17.

“Jess Bouchier normally plays goal attack, but she’s out for four to six weeks with stress fractures, so we are having to look at some other goaling options.

“Nikki’s living in Melbourne now, training with the Western Bulldogs VFL team and playing (football) for the (Greater Western Victoria) Rebels, we were really fortunate that the Rebels had the bye and she was able to play for us, it was great to have her back.

“I know the girls really enjoyed having her back out there, she was an amazing target for us, she’s incredibly strong and got great elevation and our attackers were able to utilise that and expose that feed into the circle.”

This week’s match against eighth-placed Hamilton shapes as a must win game for the Bombers to keep a hold on a top three spot.

“Last time we played Hamilton, I don’t think we saw them at their best, I think they’ve definitely consolidated their line-up and had everyone available in recent weeks.

“Kelsey Lewis has been in incredible form for them as a goal shooter, so we have to do a lot of work out the front, either in a one-on-one or a defensive press to try and counter the flow to her.”

Cobden also got the points in division one with a 40-23 win.

Steph Mahony, Ruby Suhan and Hannah Justin were best for the Bombers, with Steph Mahony shooting 23 goals.

The division two game resulted in a 26-24 win to Terang Mortlake.

Anna Hinkley and Courtney Gatens were the Bombers best in the loss.

In division three, Cobden had a 31-23 win.

Kayla Hunter, Mia McVilly and Maggie Conheady were the Bombers best, with Conheady shooting 16 goals and Tonya Spokes 15.

The 17 and under game saw Terang Mortlake have a big 61-8 win.

Shelby Mahony, Matilda Narik and Hannah Robertson were best for Cobden, with Isabella Wain shooting six goals.

The 17 and under reserves match saw Terang Mortlake win 29-10.

Elizabeth Dennis, Sophie Halliday and Greta Darcy were the Bombers best, with Ava Bonner shooting seven goals.

The 15 and under netball saw Cobden score a 37-27 win.

Grace Hester, Charlotte Dean and Dakoda Baker were best for Cobden, with Dean shooting 16 goals and Hester 13.

Cobden won the 15 and under reserves 18-17.

Bridie Roberts, Savannah Beames and Mollie Rochfort were best for the Bombers, with Emma Bonner scoring seven goals, Amelia Katsaros six and Savannah Beames five.

The 13 and under netball saw a 33-29 win to Terang Mortlake.

Mahli Baxter, Zahlia Hill and Harpah Baxter were best for the Bombers, with Zahlia Hill shooting 20 goals and Taja Delaney-Hutchins eight.

Terang Mortlake scored a strong 37-8 win in the 13 and under reserves netball.

Nardia Ferrari, Esther Couch and Ruby Glennen were best for the junior Bombers, with Charlotte Phillips shooting six goals.