Rumbalara’s quest for a fairytale perfect run in the 2024 competition has ended in rather abrupt midweek fashion, following the overturning of its 59-43 win over Tongala, a result which had the certification of an 18-0 regular season record.
The cause of this turn of events was the fielding of an ineligible player in the Blues game, which has seen Tongala now claim the four points and Rumbalara retroactively assigned a 17-1 record.
The administrative penalty is not the first of its kind to be handed down in the AFL Goulburn Murray sphere this season after Dookie United was docked four premiership points on the grounds of player ineligibility.
Murray league netball boss Julie Walsh outlined the circumstances.
“Rumbalara played an unregistered player, which is an automatic forfeit,” Walsh said.
“It was just a really unfortunate administration error.
“When people don’t play on full season registration, it’s easy to slip people’s minds.
“Different factors come into play with single-game passes; sometimes people don’t want to pay for full season passes.
“Our admin checks score sheets at the end of every game and as soon as we found out, we spoke to Rumbalara on Monday, so they’re aware of that.”
Murray Netball League amends week one finals schedule
Elimination Final 1: Finley v Nathalia - Saturday, August 31, 1.30pm @ Mulwala
Elimination Final 2: Tongala v Deniliquin, Sunday, September 1, 1.30pm @ Tongala
While hopes of an undefeated season have met a clerical end, Rumbalara’s path to a potential premiership is unchanged for the time being, still set for a qualifying final meeting with Moama next weekend for a place in the grand final.
Rumbalara president Josh Atkinson lamented that an “honest mistake” had been made, but vowed that the A-graders were undeterred in their mission.
“It was just a simple clerical error from us and we put our hands up and accept that,” Atkinson said.
“Thank god it didn’t affect anything for us in terms of finals.
“It takes a lot to distract the girls from the journey they’re on and they’ve got the fortitude to soldier on through it.
“While it’s disappointing for the girls that we lost our perfect season on a technicality, we were always aiming to play the last game in September.
“That’s still on the table for us.”
However, Tongala moves from sixth to fourth with an amended 12-6 record that fortuitously sees the Blues now play a home elimination final as they take on Deniliquin on Sunday.
Third-placed Finley now takes on Nathalia, which has been bumped down to sixth place, in the first elimination final after also meeting in last weekend’s home and away finale which saw the Cats prevail 39-26.
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