Wimmera netball final ends in scoring controversy
An elimination final result will stand after a country netball league decided not to overturn the result, despite video evidence of a scoring error. See the details.
The Wimmera league has refused to overturn the result of an A grade netball final played last Sunday despite evidence a major scoring blunder took place.
A probe into the match was carried out this week by an independent accredited investigator who concluded video footage of the match “clearly” showed Ararat defeated Southern Mallee Thunder 48-47 at the final whistle.
But on the day it was deemed the two teams “tied” and Thunder was then ahead after overtime to advance to this weekend’s first semi-final.
Despite the investigator’s findings the scoring error had taken place, the league’s board rejected multiple pleas from Ararat to reverse the result.
“It’s community level sport,” Ararat president David Hosking said.
“The day we rely on a technicality to put the wrong team through in a finals series rather than the team that actually won the game, then there is something seriously wrong with your organisation.
“The league scorer made an error.”
Hosking argued the Ararat captain was “under duress” when she had to sign off on the result of the match in a move the league has used to justify not overturning the result.
The league board said in a statement on Thursday: “This decision is final. No further comment will be made.”
But in a detailed explanation obtained by the Weekly Times, the league said: “The board’s consultation with Netball Victoria and review of established precedent cases, including
decisions made at Netball Australia level such as the Magpies versus Vixens case in 2023, consistently support the principle that results stand when official scorecards have been signed by both competing teams, regardless of subsequent discoveries of scoring or umpiring errors.
“Based on these findings and in strict accordance with WFNL bylaws, the board has decided to not overturn Sunday’s result.
“The original final result will remain as officially recorded and signed by both teams.
“The WFNL board acknowledges that human error occurred in the match-day scoring process and takes this matter seriously.
“We are implementing appropriate procedural changes to enhance scoring accuracy for the remainder of the finals series.”
