The Tigers played 55 minutes of quality netball, but let Shepparton United get the best of them over the final five, earning the Demons the win in the Goulburn Valley League’s round eight.
The battle between two sides who aren’t where they want to be at this stage of the season saw the home side grab an early break at Deakin Reserve.
The Demons scored the first four goals of the contest and held on to that lead for most of the first quarter.
Rochester was able to fight back in the dying minutes of the term, reducing the lead to two at the first break.
The second quarter belonged to the Tigers, who surged to the lead with eight of the first 10 scores of the term.
The Demons restored parity late in the half, but it was Rochester with its nose in front by one at half-time.
There was nothing between the sides through much of the third period, but this time it was United who made a late run, leading by just two goals at the final change.
It was much of the same through the first 10 minutes of the final quarter, Tia Webb bringing the Tigers within one with just five minutes to play.
While neither side had been able to put together a consistent passage of dominance, the Demons made their move when it mattered, stringing together five straight and closing the match with seven of the last eight scores to break Rochy hearts.
Webb (19 goals) and Ava Nihill (20) continued Rochester’s approach of balancing the scoring in attack, while the Demons relied more heavily on Hannah Onley (30), with Abby Gilmore playing a supporting role.
The Tigers’ record now reads 3-5, although the top six remains well within reach, as sixth-placed Mooroopna (4-4) is only a game ahead.
It will be a challenging test for Rochy next weekend as the other tenants of Deakin Reserve, Shepparton Bears, make the trip to Rochester.
The Bears have matched defending champion Euroa’s perfect record so far this season.
12°C