The Riv’s biggest sport stories of 2024: 7-4

In this edition, we will unveil ranks 7-4.

7. Having a ball: Fletcher thrives at top flight

It was a big year for barefoot waterskier Fletcher Ball. Not only did he dominate at the Australian Barefoot Water Ski Championships, but he also placed highly at the 2024 International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation World Barefoot Championships in Florida.

At the Australian championships, Ball earned his first national title among the senior ranks at Bonney’s Water Ski Park in Bladivis, Western Australia, racking up 2977.01 points to take out the overall accolade in the open men division.

The overall win saw the young gun return to the world championships once again as a member of the Australian team, alongside veteran Brett Sands.

Unfortunately for the pair, the world championships were cut short by Hurricane Milton. The second-most intense Atlantic Hurricane ever recorded decimated Florida.

Before the hurricane wiped out proceedings, Ball took out the slalom event and earned second place overall in the world championships after placing second in the tricks event and 13th in the jumps.

Ball reflected on his performance at the Australian nationals competition and his relationship with long-time coach and friend Brett Sands.

“I've always loved going down there (to nationals), seeing a few mates once again, and to be able to come from where I was last year and come and beat the world champion this year and put up those scores in the first round was just perfect,” he said.

“I’ve been working pretty hard with ‘Sandsy’ and Brad Shearer, but I certainly wasn’t going out there expecting to crack three new PBs, and by quite a lot as well in the first round.”

6. Border Raiders women secure title and promotion

After missing out by just a single point in 2023, the Echuca-Moama Border Raiders women’s side earned promotion to the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League 1, confirming their top-place finish with a win on the final day of the regular season.

Level on points but with a far superior goal difference to Golden City White, the Border Raiders knew that a win over La Trobe University would be enough to finish on top of the ladder, regardless of other results.

In a cagey first half, La Trobe frustrated the locals, and the game was well in the balance at half-time, with the Border Raiders leading just 1-0.

Knowing a draw would take promotion hopes out of their hands, the Border Raiders came out with renewed vigour in the second 45, breaching the La Trobe defence on four more occasions for an eventual 5-0 victory.

In the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League Super Cup, which functions as the regular season’s finals campaign, the Border Raider women secured the flag for Echuca-Moama.

The Border Raiders came up against Golden City White, where the women held on despite a late opposition surge to claim the game 2-1.

“It was very intense. They definitely put the pressure on, and they definitely wanted that win, but luckily we wanted it just that little bit more,” Border Raiders co-coach Paige Pinson said.

“I’ve never been more proud of the girls. I’m so lucky to be able to coach them and play with them. I feel absolutely honoured to be allowed to do that.”

Pinson also highlighted the team’s excitement to play in division one next season.

“Definitely looking forward to next year in div one,” Pinson said.

“It’ll definitely be a different kettle of fish, but we're really looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to pushing ourselves and continuing to promote soccer, creating a safe environment for everyone to be a part of and hopefully getting a few wins under our belt.”

5. Girls and women’s football teams bring home the glory

Echuca’s women and Echuca United’s youth girls football teams were crowned champions of their competitions, highlighting the growing participation standard in women’s football.

Echuca United completed a perfect Goulburn Murray Youth Girls campaign in season 2024 with victory over Shepparton United in the decider.

It was the Eagles’ day from early on, lifting the cup after a competitive 7.4 (46) to 4.3 (27) win over the Demons.

Coach Jason Dennis was thrilled for his side to complete the dream and lift the flag after the game.

“It was just joy and relief (at the final siren),” Dennis said.

“It’s hard going through a season undefeated and keeping the girls up and going.

“Getting to a grand final, having to step it up was big because many teams go through unbeaten and then drop it at the end, so it was just relief.”

Jerrah Caruso was awarded best-on-ground after drilling three maximums throughout the contest.

Meanwhile, Echuca’s women’s side had a much closer call, with their game coming down to the final kick.

The Murray Bombers faced off against Shepparton United in the thriller, where the latter struck first.

With both sides locked evenly all throughout the game, it took an out-of-the-ruck snap late by Echuca co-captain Jacquelyn James to ice the game for the Murray Bombers.

The final score was 4.3 (27) to 4.2 (26) in favour of the girls in green, with Echuca head coach Damian Dalziel relieved that his side finished the job.

“All the girls worked so hard to get that reward and winning one is hard, but going back-to-back is wonderful,” Dalziel said.

“When you’re seven points up with four-and-a-half minutes to go, the ball’s in your forward line, and you’re just making contest after contest, that’s what you want.

“You start looking at the clock and luckily for us, after the last goal there was no time when the ball got back to the middle.”

4. Echuca claims triple glory in 2023-24 McMahon Shield

Echuca Cricket Club overcame Moama with 12 runs to spare in the 2023-24 McMahon Shield grand final and claim three flags in as many seasons.

Day one featured a resilient batting display from Echuca, who managed to bat out its 80 overs and post a respectable total when it looked like doing neither halfway through the day’s play.

Echuca’s Aidan Young (33) held down a crumbling middle order, while Charlie Hinks (38) and skipper Simon Maddox’s (42) partnership catapulted the men in green to a respectable total to defend on day two.

Half-centuries to Matt Saunders (54) and Jordan McGregor (53 not out) weren’t enough to get the Mowers over the line, falling tantalisingly short of winning it all.

The bowling of Young (3-55) and Maddox (3-22) did the majority of the heavy lifting for Echuca, with the latter claiming man-of-the-match honours.

“It’s unbelievable, mate. After Christmas, we lost three in a row, we hit a form slump, and sides probably thought ‘Echuca’s not the side they were’,” Maddox said of the victory.

“We had a pretty deep, honest chat and just got back to working hard.

“You most likely heard us throw the word ‘grind’ out there, and we’ve been grinding for six or eight weeks, extra training, blokes doing training and throwing balls to each other, so credit to the boys.

“They’ve been wonderful, they’re an amazing group of fellas, so right now I’m over the moon. It’s honestly probably the sweetest one I’ve won at Echuca Cricket Club.”

We continue our countdown with the top three stories in the next edition of The Riv.