THERE may not have been much joy on the footy field or netball court this year, but the Melton-Moorabool area took the spoils in other sports. The Weekly looks back at the sporting highlights of 2011RUGBY LEAGUE
Drought breakers. That's how Melton's 2011 team will be remembered as the Warriors won a Victorian Rugby League senior premiership for the first time since 1985.
The 31-13 win against Monash in September capped a season where the Warriors won the minor premiership and defeated their long-time arch-rival to capture the title.
Mafi Maka, Leon Robinson, Chris Bevis, Dennis Joubert and Mark Thompson crossed for tries in the final, while the boot of Matthew Bridges did the converting.
RDFL FOOTY
Melton Central and Rockbank had a tough year in the RDFL seniors, albeit almost falling into the top six in one of the stranger finals races in recent seasons.
A dominant top five allowed one club with a losing record to claim sixth at season's end, but Wallan was johnny-on-the-spot.
Romsey's Shannon Green won the league's best and fairest medal, going on to win the premiership with the Redbacks against Sunbury Kangaroos
RDNL NETBALL
Melton Central was knocked out on preliminary final day of A grade, but the team did have an individual honour as Bec Pereira tied with Wallan's Kirrily Gilchrist for the league best and fairest.
Melton Central did have a winner on grand final day, though, when its C grade team defeated Sunbury Kangaroos in the final.
BALLARAT FNL
Darley endured a winless season, while Melton and Bacchus Marsh also fell quickly out of finals contention in the seniors. However, Melton South became the league's feel-good story by getting into the top six. It bowed out in the first round of finals.
Darley claimed bragging rights in the netball A grade finals as it eliminated Bacchus Marsh in the first round, but bowed out to East Point in the semi-finals.
Defender Olivia Aughton was the runaway A grade netball best and fairest winner, capping a stellar first season with the Devils.
HOCKEY
Melt on Hockey Club's women went within a game of a perfect season, losing just once in 20 games as it romped to the Hockey Victoria state league 4 premiership.
The Mustangs had a season-long rivalry with Swinburne but proved too good on grand final day, going two steps better than the team's preliminary final exit the previous season.
With a squad size limit of just 14, a tight-knit Melton team sported the league's top scorer in Megan Shadbolt.
CRICKET
< p>Melton proved to be the dominant VSDCA team of the north and west, albeit without a city-wide playoff to prove itself against the south and east. The Lions defeated Williamstown by five wickets in the North-West first XI final, with captain Mick Allen making 72 as Melton made 5-126 in reply to 122 all-out.
Brad Jones's 5-50 skittled Williamstown, and he and fellow opening quick James Wheelahan both enjoyed dominant seasons as a bowling combination.
Bacchus Marsh was denied a crack at making the GDCA McIntyre Cup final by the weather. It was defending 146 against Riddell, which was 1-93 when play was abandoned.
BOWLS
Me lton and Bacchus Marsh were not contenders for the Central Highlands bowls title, as Kyneton Red defeated Kyneton Golf in an all-Macedon Ranges finals series.
Melton took the plunge to move its club into the metro system, reaching the end of the calendar year undefeated in Saturday pennant division 3, section 1, and dreaming of a premiership.
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