In a close contest between two of the lower sides in the league, the Storm were searching for their second win. 

It wasn’t meant to be, as the Panthers fought hard to register the victory. 

The Storm led by just a goal after the first quarter before the Panthers opened up a five-goal lead at half-time. 

Rupanyup held onto its lead and ended up winning by 10 goals with the final score reading 47-37.

Rupanyup’s Blair Burke led the way from the offensive end, shooting 35 goals in the win. 

Panthers playing coach Kayla Woods said it was good to get the win out of the way. 

“We were really happy to get a win on the board and it had been a few weeks coming,” she said. 

Woods said it was a close contest for much of the game against the Storm.

“It was a really windy day at Rainbow so the ball was back and forth for the first couple of quarters,” she said.

“It was a good game and we got over the line in the end. Blair has steadily been getting better each week and played a great game. She was a good target and we got the ball to her quite a bit. 

“Alex Downes in centre had a really good game as well feeding the ball forward.”

Woods said there had still been a good feeling around the team despite not pulling through for a win until Saturday.

“I think we have a really good group and unfortunately we just didn’t get a win in the first few rounds,” she said.

“We will hope to improve over the next few weeks and keep building. I think our accuracy with shooting has hurt us this season. We have had a lot of opportunities to score goals but we just haven’t been converting as much. Hopefully we can keep turning that around – both shooters had a really good game at the weekend.”

It has been a tough start to the season for the Panthers, with the win lifting the side into 10th position on the ladder above Taylors Lake. 

Elsewhere, Laharum made light work of Edenhope-Apsley showing why it is one of the favourites to win the league this season.

The Saints had been in good form prior to the contest but the Demons were simply too strong in a physical game at Laharum’s Cameron Oval. 

Laharum won 52-17 to maintain its lead on the Horsham District ladder.

Natimuk United also had a big win against Kalkee at the weekend, winning 64-29, and trail the Demons in second place on percentage. 

In a lopsided round, the Swifts dominated Taylors Lake 61-31, while Harrow-Balmoral returned to form with a 51-26 win away to Noradjuha-Quantong.