Rochester’s Morgan Dingwall and Shepparton Swans' Harriet Gall in the Swans’ four-goal win at the weekend. Photos: Jazzy Johal
In likely its best opportunity to grab another win before the end of the season Rochester fell agonisingly short in its round 16 Goulburn Valley League netball clash with Shepparton Swans.
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In the second half of the split round the Tigers made the trip to Princess Park, taking on a Swans side that was a place above them on the table, albeit with three more wins on the board.
A slow start over the first five minutes put Rochy on the back foot early on, but it wasn’t yet clear how impactful those early moments would be as the Swans broke out to a 10-4 advantage.
Rochester fought its way back into the contest with a string of goals, nearly levelling the contest, before the host pushed back ahead, leading 18-14 at the first break.
The Swans looked to consolidate their advantage in the second quarter, making a fast start to get out by 11 five minutes before half-time, but, again, the Tigers had an answer.
They scored seven straight and 10 of the final 12 goals to cut the lead to three at half-time, 30-27.
Sophie Atkinson lines it up over the Rochy defender.
Rochester didn’t let the half-time break slow it down, continuing to roll forward at the start of the third quarter and taking a one score lead on several occasions.
The sides remained locked together for the rest of the term, the Swans narrowly sneaking ahead late to be back up by three, 47-44, with a quarter to play.
The Tigers quickly restored parity in the fourth, but the Swans would surge again to establish a five-goal advantage.
Despite Rochester’s best efforts, it was unable to claw its way back again as the clock ticked down and Shepparton Swans escaped with the 62-58 win.
The Tigers may look back at that early 10-4 lead as one of the defining moments of the game, as taking away the slow start the visitors actually won the rest of the game from that point.
Tia Webb was again the focal point of the Rochester attack, sinking 35 of her side’s goals, while Colbinabbin loanee Matilda McIntyre accounted for the remaining 23.
With a 3-13 record and two games remaining, Rochester is locked into 10th place, with no possibility of movement up or down.
The Tigers finish their season with two difficult fixtures, first at home to ladder leader Euroa and then visiting defending premier Shepparton.
