The footballers worked to the final siren, only to find themselves undone after it as Chaz Sergeant drilled a post-script match-winner for Tatura.
So close yet so far, too, were the maroon, blue and gold A-graders on the courts at Tatura Park on Saturday.
This encounter rightfully carried main event billing in the competition’s round one netball fixture and the heavy hitters got right to work in a tight-knit opening term.
Reigning Wellman Family medallist Ellie Fuhrmeister went about her usual elite business, putting up plenty of numbers in the arc as the Lions carried a four-goal advantage into half-time.
Tatura’s quality started to shine through after the main break, despite an early surge that saw Seymour lead by six early in the second half, with the Bulldogs linking up brilliantly to assume a slim lead at the final change.
The Lions continued to fire up, but an early Tatura flurry saw the six-goal margin from the third term wholly reversed.
The margin continued to plateau as the sides went blow for blow, but Seymour’s attackers put the pedal to the floor after the two-minute warning.
A blinding four-goal blitz left it hanging at 52-50, but the final horn left Seymour just shy of a marvellous comeback.
Last year’s netball table had little more than a stone’s throw separating minor premier Euroa from sixth-placed Shepparton, and both Tatura and Seymour served up a finals-worthy contest in the opening round.
In victory, Tatura coach Elsie Boyer served up praise for her worthy adversaries.
“They (Seymour) were awesome from the first whistle,” Boyer said.
“Ally Black in their goals, she was awesome, and Ellie Fuhrmeister was too. I think with their attack end, they know each other really well.
“To nut them out was really good, but they were playing really well as well, (playing) patient netball.”
Seymour has the round two weekend off before returning to action in round three on Saturday, April 20, at Shepparton’s Princess Park against the Swans.
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