Sport

29 July, 2026

Bombers strong against reigning premiers

COBDEN went down to reigning premiers North Warrnambool by 36 points in its round 14 Hampden League senior football clash on Saturday.

The Bombers were close for much of the game, before the Eagles kicked away late to record a 12.11.83 to 6.11.47 win at the Bushfield Recreation Reserve.

“It was probably at about the 18 minute mark (of the last quarter) that they kicked a couple of quick goals and extended their lead out to that four or five goals; that margin just probably didn’t reflect the game that it was,” Cobden coach Brody Mahoney said.

“We just went in with a theory that if we could control it for more than what they did, then hopefully the score would fall a little bit in our favour, and it did for the majority.”

Consistent duo Matthew Kemp and Archie Taylor were best for Cobden in the loss.

“They’ve been super, the both of them, no matter the weather or who we’re playing, if it’s not touching the ball it’s their pressure and they’re giving us first use, good ball use and hitting the scoreboard a little bit as well, which is all you can ask for.

“Archie’s only 19 years old and Kempy’s only young himself; he’s a young captain which puts a bit of pressure on his shoulders, he’s been handling it so well and to keep performing the way he is, it’s a credit to him, he’s been super.”

Sam Thow and Luke Smith were also in the best for Cobden and drew praise from Mahoney.

“Smithy’s been great since he’s come back in, playing mid-forward, he’s been able to hit the scoreboard and get plenty of the footy himself, we’re just trying not to kind of rush him back in and play too much game time with his ankle, but he has been holding up pretty well.

“Sam’s last two or three weeks have been super as well, he’s given us a bit of bounce off half back and getting back to his better footy. It’s great to see him playing well and his body feeling good again as well.”

Smith was the only multiple goal kicker for the Bombers with two.

This Saturday the Bombers host Warrnambool at the Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve.

“A big game for us really, we probably let one slip against them last time over at the Reid Oval, we just didn’t start well.

“We’re hoping to come out and start well and look to get a win, we think we’re a great chance this weekend against them.”

The reserves match saw Cobden register its eighth win in a row with a 5.11.41 to 3.9.27 victory.

Best for the Bombers were Jonty Robertson, Sam Darcy, Brodie Foster and Luke Hickey, with the team having five individual goalkickers.

In the under 18s, North Warrnambool was dominant, scoring a 21.9.135 to 0.1.1 win.

Micah Darcy, Lennie Walsh, Harrison Glennon, Adam Jopling, Hayden Chamberlain and Aaron Fleming were Cobden’s best in the loss.

In the under 16s at Cobden on Sunday, North Warrnambool registered a 19.16.130 to 1.0.6 win.

Xander Weel, Archie White, Michael Benallack and Will Darcy were best for Cobden, with Tyler Bailey kicking the lone goal.

Cobden scored a 6.9.45 to 1.1.7 win in the under 14 football.

Ryan Bailey, Fletcher White, Jack Bourke and Rhys Darcy were best for the Bombers in the win, with Jed Watson kicking three goals.

In the under 12s, North Warrnambool was also too strong, running out 8.13.61 to 0.1.1 winners.

Thomas Dixon, Harry White and Joshua Fleming were the junior Bombers best in the loss.

The season is now over for Cobden’s Sunday junior teams, with the under 16s finishing 10th and the under 14s ending up in sixth position.

HAMPDEN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE

ROUND 14
SENIOR FOOTBALL
NORTH WARRNAMBOOL v CODBEN
North Warrnambool 12.11 (83) defeated Cobden 6.11 (47)

Best Players
North Warrnambool: Xavier Harris, Jarryd Lewis, Charlie McKinnon, Tom Keast, Jackson Grundy, Angus Noske
Cobden: Matthew Kemp, Archie Taylor, Sam Thow, Luke Smith, Joe Hutt

Goal Kickers:
North Warrnambool: Charlie McKinnon 6, Harley Cobb, Jackson Grundy, Charlie James, Tom Keast, Luke Wines, Matthew Wines
Cobden: Luke Smith 2, Michael Koroneos, Brody Mahoney, Blake Mottram, Henry Robertson

The Open netball saw Cobden score a strong 69-44 win over sixth placed North Warrnambool.

“We’re really pleased with the result, we know that North Warrnambool has been sitting around sixth and seventh, and they’ve been building out their season, so we were really pleased to build upon each quarter and have a strong win,” Cobden coach Nadine McNamara said.

McNamara had special mention for the game of defender Macey Hicks.

“I felt Macey Hicks did a really beautiful job.

“She’s an excellent player, and she does a really good job of confusing space for the opposition and creating support for her teammates, she was fantastic for us as goal defence.”

Jess McGlade and Emily Finch, who shot 40 goals, were also in Cobden’s best.

“Jess has been working really hard on her attacking transition and decision making under pressure, and we thought she executed that really well for us on the weekend.

“And Emily was really strong for us as goal shooter again, she’s been a really consistent performer for us this season.”

McNamara added that the win was a full team performance with everyone contributing.

“Not to be cliché, but it was a real team effort, North Warrnambool played an excellent zone defence and that was something that we had to try and work our way through and problem solve with a couple of different strategies.

“So credit to North Warrnambool, we had to work quite hard to try and get it across the transverse line, I thought our players adapted to the coaching feedback really well to try and work through that.”

This week the third placed Bombers take on fifth placed Warrnambool.

“The last time, there was only a couple of goals in it and they’ve been scoring quite high volumes, so for us it’s going to be about our defensive pressure from the centre passes to try and win ball at different areas of the court and not just leave it to the feed to the goal shooter.

“They’ve got quite a tall target as their goal shooter who’s incredibly accurate, so we’re going to need to work on some full team defence to try and mitigate their strong attack in the end.”

Cobden also got the points in division one with a 45-19 win.

Sarah Moroney, Hannah Justin and Isabelle Hutt were best for the Bombers, with Steph Mahony shooting 28 goals.

The division two game resulted in a 38-34 win to North Warrnambool.

Eisha Howard and Cobden debutant Kaitlyn Ward were the Bombers best in the loss.

In division three, North Warrnambool had a 40-18 win.

Kayla Hunter, Chelsea Skuza and Tonya Spokes were the Bombers best in the loss, with Spokes shooting eight goals.

The 17 and under game saw North Warrnambool have a 45-14 win.

Marley Howard, Martha Andrew and Matilda Narik were best for Cobden, with Howard shooting 10 goals.

The 17 and under reserves game saw a 30-8 win to North Warrnambool.

Sophie Halliday, Ayrli Baxter and Jessica MacDonald were best for Cobden in the loss.

The 15 and under netball saw North Warrnambool score a 36-22 win.

Maddison Fisher, Etti Glennen and Dekohda Baxter were best for Cobden, with Zaya Howard shooting 14 goals.

The 15 and under reserves ended in a 29-10 win to Cobden.

Emma Bonner, Bridie Roberts and Olivia Bignell were best for the Bombers, with Bonner scoring 22 goals and Amelia Katsaros seven.

The 13 and under netball saw a 32-12 win to North Warrnambool.

Alice Dennis, Harpah Baxter and Mahli Baxter were best for Cobden with Zahlia Hill and Charlotte Robertson scoring six goals each.

North Warrnambool scored a 31-6 win in the 13 and under reserves netball.

Nardia Ferrari and Ella Davis were Cobden’s best, with Charlotte Phillips shooting four goals.

HAMPDEN FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE

ROUND 14
OPEN NETBALL
NORTH WARRNAMBOOL v CODBEN
North Warrnambool 44 lost to Cobden 69

Best Players
North Warrnambool: Elisha Sobey, Ashlea Ferguson, Jessica Haberfield
Cobden: Nadine McNamara, Jessica McGlade, Emily Finch

Goal Scorers
North Warrnambool: Chelsea Quinn 28, Jessica Haberfield 9, Addison Conheady 6, Olivia Grundy
Cobden: Emily Finch 40, Jessica Bouchier 20, Grace Taylor 9