Pimpinio looks to be the big improver of the 2026 Horsham District league A Grade netball season after an intriguing first round on Saturday.

The Tigers claimed the wooden spoon with only one win to their name last year, but showed they will be no pushovers this season in a 59-51 loss to 2025 runner-up Edenhope-Apsley on Saturday.

Playing on Pimpinio Recreation Reserve’s new courts for the first time, the Tigers got off to a dream start when they led the Saints 16-14 at quarter time, with goal attack Tahlia Thompson making a seamless return following a two-year absence.

Victoria Taylor was another player to return to Pimpinio after two years at Rupanyup, where she won a premiership last season, helping shore up the defensive circle alongside youngster Ruby Williams.

Edenhope-Apsley coach Lavinia Fox was full of praise for the Tigers.

“I think they’ve secured some great recruits in the off-season. They came out really strongly,” she said.

“They seemed very well drilled as well, so it ended up just being a really good game of netball. It was very competitive, which is what you want in round one.” 

The game began to turn in the Saints’ favour in the second quarter after the visitors brought Holly Whitehead on at wing attack, giving them more dynamism across the middle and forward thirds.

But Fox said she focused on settling her players rather than tactical adjustments.

A 19-10 second term put the Saints in the lead, and the visitors were never seriously threatened from there.

With a 10-goal advantage in the final term Fox brought on junior development player Alexandra Grant, who scored her first A Grade goal.

“That was a wholesome moment for us to be part of,” Fox said.

“Overall it was nice to see us open the game up a bit more in the second half and give more girls an opportunity.”

In another positive for the Saints, the team welcomed another new recruit – midcourt player Hannah Magasanik from the Victorian Netball League’s Peninsula Waves.

“She was doing Australian-level rowing a couple of years ago and then changed her focus to netball, and she’s quite strong and dynamic, so we’re quite pleased to welcome her into the side,” Fox said.

“I think she should be really good for us through the middle.”

Elsewhere, the league’s traditional powerhouses began their campaigns strongly.

Laharum, back to full strength after missing some key players last season, demolished Taylors Lake 67-30 at Dock Lake Reserve, with defenders Ema Iredell and Jaspa Robinson starring, while goalie Caitlin Story’s successful return after a year off was overshadowed by an even more dominant display from young goalie Ilze Van Zyl, recruited from Rupanyup.

Van Zyl netted 39 goals while Story had 28 in the first outing for a tandem that is likely to give opposition coaches headaches all season.

Noradjuha-Quantong also flexed its muscles in a 52-18 win against Swifts that was spearheaded by coach Taylor Shelley.

Shelley played as a defender last season but scored a team-high 24 goals at goal attack before spending time in defence in the final term, while recruit Rachel Leader held down a key defensive post and her sister Jessica ran through the midcourt.

Edwina Flakemore was the Baggies’ best, keeping Noradjuha-Quantong captain Ashlee Morrish relatively quiet at goal shooter.

Reigning premier Rupanyup suffered a first-up loss to Natimuk United after losing the entirety of its grand-final-winning squad.

Stacey Hopwood was in sterling form for the Rams with 32 goals, while Emma Uebergang played a supporting role with 16.

Best for the new-look Panthers was Molly Fagan, who helped keep Uebergang in check, while Phoebe Downer worked hard at goal attack.

Kaniva-Leeor United and Harrow-Balmoral played the closest match of the round, with the Cougars prevailing 36-32. Trailing at the first two changes, the Cougars retook the lead in the third term thanks to the efforts of goalie Nikki Hawker, while Ellen Bennett was effective after moving from the midcourt to goal defence.

The Roos were best served by goalies Holly Langley and Mia Rees.

The Cougars will have another test against Natimuk United in round two this weekend, while the Roos face the daunting task of hosting Noradjuha-Quantong. Edenhope-Apsley will host Rupanyup in a rematch of last season’s grand final, with Pimpinio travelling to Laharum and Kalkee emerging from a round-one bye to host Taylors Lake. 

The entire April 15, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!