Sport
30 July, 2025
Tough day for Bombers
COBDEN’S senior footballers went down by 15 points to Port Fairy in trying conditions at home last Saturday.
In wet and muddy conditions, the Bombers could only manage to get seven points on the scoreboard by three-quarter time.
“It was an all-round tough day, not much skill involved, it was all about just moving the ball forward,” Cobden coach Brody Mahoney said.
“We had a similar amount of shots as them earlier in the game, we just struggled to get those early goals that became vital in the result.”
The Bombers kicked their only two goals in the final term, Port Fairy running out 5.7.37 to 2.10.22 winners.
Grady Rooke and teenager Eddie Walsh were best for the Bombers.
“Eddie played a great game, he was one of the only players who looked like they were playing with a dry ball in the first half,” Mahoney said.
“Grady, like Eddie, was very clean with his ball use, he was great at shoring us up down back.”
Sam Thow, Sam Lucas and Josh Hickey also impressed the Cobden mentor.
“Sam (Thow) was really good down back before we threw him up forward to use his leg speed.
“Sam Lucas is always really solid down back, while Josh is really finding his niche and playing good footy.”
This week Cobden travel to Bushfield to take on top of the ladder North Warrnambool.
“Bushfield can be quite a heavy deck, we’ll have learnt a lot from playing in the wet conditions on Saturday,” Mahoney said.
“We are keen to respond, we know our best footy can match the footy of the best teams.”
In the reserves football, Port Fairy had a 4.6.30 to 4.2.26 win.
Matt Clarke, Tom Mahony and Angus Molan were Cobden’s best, with Luke Hickey kicking two goals.
The under 18 game saw Port Fairy get the points with a 9.7.61 to 5.5.35 win.
Oscar Norman and Hamish Dean kicked two goals each, with Ollie Rial, Hayden Chamberlain and Dean best for the Bombers.
In the under 16s at Port Fairy on Sunday, the Seagulls recorded an 8.12.60 to 1.2.8 win.
Rusty Ponting, Lenny Walsh and Daniel Nguena were best for Cobden in the loss, with Micah Darcy kicking the only goal.
In the under 14 game, Port Fairy was too strong, scoring a 9.9.63 to 2.1.13 win.
Alby Jones, Michael Benallack and Ace Roberts were Cobden’s best.
Port Fairy had a 6.5.41 to 2.3.15 win in the under 12 football.
Angus Merrett, Jack Bourke and Nicholas Campbell were best for the junior Bombers.
In the Open netball, Cobden scored a strong 59-31 win.
“We made a great start and kept building as we went along,” coach Nadine McNamara said.
“We made plenty of rotations and tried different combinations which worked well.”
That the Bombers had increased their margin against Port Fairy from their first encounter this year (when Cobden won 45-40) was pleasing for the Cobden mentor.
“The first time it was close, Saturday’s result showed how much we have grown over the year,” McNamara said.
Lara Taylor was named as best for Cobden.
“Lara was fantastic as centre, she shows maturity and composure beyond her years.”
Jaymie Finch and Remeny McCann were also in the Bombers best.
“Jaymie played another strong game, her feeds and goal assists were great, she plays well in tandem with (goal shooter) Nikki Clover.
“Remeny is finding her best form and gets better by the week, she had a strong game as goal keeper and goal defender.”
The Bombers remain in fourth position, four points behind Koroit, with North Warrnambool next up this week.
“North Warrnambool are always a tough team to play despite their position (ninth); it’s another important game for us as we look to push into the top three.”
In the division one netball, Cobden recorded a 34-26 win.
Ashlee Merrett, Nikki Clover and Jessica Walsh were Cobden’s best, with Jessica Bouchier shooting a match high 22 goals.
Port Fairy got the points in division two with a 27-26 win.
Jessica Anderson, Kayla Hunter and Leah Dickson were best for the Bombers, with Hailey Mahony scoring 21 goals.
Port Fairy scored a 34-16 win in the division three game.
Jacque Dickson, Tayla Hickey and Cara Wheatley were best for the Bombers, with Maggie Conheady scoring eight goals.
Port Fairy registered a 27-18 win in the 17 and under netball.
Cobden’s best were Matilda Anderson, Emily Hickey and Hannah Robertson, with Mia McVilly scoring 12 goals.
In the 17 and under reserves netball, Cobden scored a 22-13 win.
Layla Blomfield, Olivia Halliday and Tilly McCrae were best for the Bombers, with Blomfield scoring 12 goals and Shelby Mahony 10.
In the 15 and under netball, Port Fairy scored a 25-21 victory.
Best for Cobden were Martha Andrew, Isabella Wain, and Sarah Bridges, with Ava Bonner shooting 13 goals.
In the 15 and under reserves, Cobden scored a 24-9 win.
For Cobden, Chloe Anderson scored 19 goals, with Greta Darcy, Jessica MacDonald and Chali Robbins the Bombers best.
Cobden had a 33-8 win in the 13 and under netball.
Charlotte Dean scored 21 goals for Cobden, with Grace Hester, Lily Baxter and Stephanie Fleming best.
The 13 and under reserves game saw Cobden score a 28-18 win.
Mollie Rochfort, Mahli Baxter and Grace Barber were best for the Bombers, with Emma Bonner scoring 16 goals and Barber eight.
Read More: Cobden