Netball
15 September, 2025
Rupanyup break through for first A Grade Netball premiership
In one of the tightest contests of the HDFNL season, Rupanyup edged out Edenhope Apsley by just two goals to claim the 2025 A Grade premiership.
The Panthers put aside last year’s grand final heartbreak to win 39-37, with 16-year-old Ilze Van Zyl named best on court for her team-high 24 goals off the bench.
Speaking after the game, player-coach Georgia Hiscock said the final whistle could not come fast enough.
“It was just a relief to hear the whistle. This premiership means so much to everyone,” she said.
“These girls have just embedded themselves within the club … and amongst the community, and the whole community turned up in support. It's just wonderful.”
After the game, Hiscock paid tribute to Joel Fowler, a driving force behind the development of Rupanyup’s netball success, who sadly passed away in 2023.
“He is up in heaven, but he would have been cheering extremely loudly for us today,” she said.
“He was a big part of getting our netball to where it is today.”
The old adage of “Offence sells tickets. Defence wins championships” rang true on Saturday as both sides stifled opportunities across the court in a physical game of chess.
“Our defenders were just instrumental in shutting down, in my opinion, the top [goal shooting] combination of the league,” Hiscock said.
“They are sensational goalies. They did a wonderful job.”
Both sides traded momentum throughout the first quarter, with neither able to establish a commanding lead.
While Bianca Drum and Zanaiya Bergen were tested by the Saints’ defensive duo, Danielle Grindlay and Olivia Spence, Dee Dee Lambert and Lavinia Fox caused problems for Rupanyup’s Lucy Bussenschutt and Victoria Taylor at the other end.
Turnovers hurt both sides, with attacking opportunities abruptly stopped in the front court.
Edenhope Apsley went into the first break with a 6-8 lead; however, Bussenschutt said the side was not disheartened by their slow start.
“We were very erratic. Everyone was panicky, so we talked about just taking a breath again and being in the present,” she said after the game.
“We might have stuffed up previously, but let's focus on the present.”
“We've come from behind throughout the season,” Taylor added.
“We've worked hard, and we knew we were capable of it.
“We have each other. We trust each other.”
The sides scored more freely in the second quarter, with the Saints extending their lead to three goals, before Rupanyup scored the following seven goals to take the lead.
Defensive efforts led to a nearly three-minute stalemate, with both teams taking low-percentage shots.
However, a quick succession of goals broke the deadlock, giving Rupanyup an 18-14 lead at halftime.
The second half began with the Saints scoring the first three goals, reducing the margin to one.
Enter Van Zyl.
Coming on for competition-leading goalscorer Zanaiya Bergen, the plucky junior played with confidence as soon as her foot touched the court.
“I just wanted to get on the court and use my speed,” Van Zyl said after the game.
“I planned to get that voice up and just back up my teammates.”
After the game, Hiscock said she wasn’t surprised Van Zyl played with such confidence.
“Ilze, you know, she's 16, yeah, but we know what she's going to bring week in, week out,” she said.
“She shot beautifully. Sinking those goals in crucial moments when we needed her.
“We have a lot of belief in Ilze that when she steps on the court.
"She did a bloody good job.”
Van Zyl combined with Drum to help Rupanyup create a buffer going into the final break, including a long penalty goal from Drum to put the Panthers ahead by five goals.
With a vocal crowd behind them, Rupanyup pushed the margin out to seven goals before the Saints mounted a comeback.
Lambert and Fox shot accurately and slashed the deficit back to just one goal; however, Van Zyl and Drum stood tall, hitting tough shots to maintain the lead.
The match came down to composure in the final minutes, with every Panthers’ defensive rebound evoking a loud cheer.
As the final whistle blew, a sea of blue and red flooded the courts as Rupanyup secured its first netball premiership.
Van Zyl’s 24 goals were complemented by Drum's 12 goals and Bergen’s three.
For the Saints, Lambert scored 30 goals while Foxed added seven.
“We knew we could do it as a team,” Van Zyl said after the game.
“We worked really hard all year.
“We just went out there, gave it our all.”
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