GVL ǀ Gallery ǀ Bears secure crucial four points in thriller, Dees go level on top
A bevy of stunning victories on Saturday has delivered yet another shakeup to the Goulburn Valley League A-grade netball ladder.
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A thrilling two-point Shepparton win at Princess Park has the Bears maintaining their hold on sixth spot.
But it was far from easy-going for Tracey Brereton’s side — who was pushed all the way by a courageous Swans outfit in a classic round 15 encounter.
“It was a very typical game of two teams trying to fight it out in finals contention,” Brereton said of the contest.
The 56-54 scoreline was a true reflection of the game itself.
Neither side let the other go clear in a scintillating end-to-end contest that was only decided in the shadows of the fourth quarter.
The Swans fought hard in a milestone match for several of their players on Saturday, with key defenders Lily Gaylard and Ella Cirillo chalking up their 100th club games, while Ash McMahon celebrated her 50th.
Brereton said nerves were tested in both camps throughout the game.
“The first quarter was 16-13, and it was a bit of a shoot-out at the end; we sort of got ahead in the third quarter but as the Swans do they fought hard and got back in it,” she said.
“And then halfway through the last we were six goals down, a couple of crucial turnovers in defence got us back in it; Abby Rowe got a few important ones for us in that fourth quarter.”
The Shepparton mentor was proud of what her girls could accomplish late in a do-or-die clash.
“I was really impressed with the girls to stay focused, they could’ve easily let it go after being six goals down in that fourth quarter, but they didn’t,” she said.
“All of my girls had really good patches in the game, but I think Abby (Rowe) coming on changed it a bit.
“Toddy (Jacinta Todd) did really well and Ella (Sidebottom) shot some big clutch goals late in the game.”
Further up the GVL A-grade ladder, Shepparton United cruised into equal-first on points with Seymour after a clinical 57-34 win over Euroa.
A blistering 18-6 first quarter from Kara Blizzard’s side put them in the driver’s seat, but a Euroa fightback kept them in the game at half-time.
But a nine-goal win in the third term pushed the game out of the Magpies’ reach.
Dees shooters Georgia Walpole and Jessie Barnes-Hill capitalised on some fine midfield work.
Walpole, Sophie Garner, and Bess Schinoffsky were all instrumental in the United triumph.
Rochester and Benalla kept the heat on the chasing Bears with respective victories over Tatura and Mansfield.
A dominant first-half performance from the Tigers, including a 16-8 second quarter, elevated them to a 57-40 win at Tatura Park.
Teal Hocking and Maddy Egglestone took the game on and led the way for Rochester, while Charlotte Thomas starred for Tatura in goals.
Meanwhile, a plucky Benalla outfit has kept itself in the race with a 39-27 win over Mansfield.
Saints defender Chloe Hill and mid-courter Hayley Martiniello were key contributors for Benalla, and helped produce a crucial 14-3 second term.
Lastly, Echuca was too strong for Kyabram and cruised out to a 60-47 win at Victoria Park.
The Murray Bombers’ usual suspects in Bianca Willis, Belinda Lees and Greta Pearson all starred in the 13-goal win.