Sport
Rochester is back to winning ways as GVL plays host to big margins in second half of split round
Rochester is rocking and rolling the Goulburn Valley League A-grade scene once again.
The Tigers, complete with a full arsenal of attacking weapons for the first time in what has seemed an age, comfortably accounted for Kyabram 72-41 on the Bombers’ home court on Sunday.
Despite tight margins at quarter-time, Kyabram was unable to wrangle the wily Tigers as the lead continued to balloon as time ticked on.
Rochester co-coach Rachel Whipp was ecstatic at the final hooter to come away with a welcomed dose of four points.
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Kyabram's Abby Waasdorp sizes up her options. Photo by Liam NashImage 2 of 9
Kyabram's Natasha Dodos lines up a shot under the ring. Photo by Liam NashImage 3 of 9
Kyabram's Maia Roberts enjoys herself in attack. Photo by Liam NashImage 4 of 9
Kyabram's Jemma Hall attempts to block a shot. Photo by Liam NashImage 5 of 9
Rochester's Ava Cottam throws an arm up to the umpire. Photo by Liam NashImage 6 of 9
Kyabram's Ava Pell searches for a pass amid traffic. Photo by Liam NashImage 7 of 9
Rochester's Ella Roulston offloads a chest pass. Photo by Liam NashImage 8 of 9
Rochester's Eloise Cuttriss looks forward for a teammate. Photo by Liam NashImage 9 of 9
Rochester's Teal Hocking looks to feed her attacking partner. Photo by Liam Nash“It was really exciting for us to get the win today, and such a convincing win,” she said.
“We’ve struggled with injuries; we’ve had all of our shooters out for the season so far pretty much, so today we had them all back on the court and we had a full team, so it was exciting to see what we can do.”
Rochester’s Tia Webb, who hadn’t featured in the two months prior to Sunday, set the tone with a string of early makes to get the Tigers roaring.
At the other end, young Bombers shooter Natasha Dodos tried to replicate the act and was doing a fine job of keeping Kyabram in the race.
At quarter-time, Rochester led 17-13 — a lead that was far from comfy.
Webb and attacking partner Teal Hocking linked up seamlessly underneath the ring throughout the second quarter, though, and Bridgette McCartey began to wisen up on Dodos’ tact.
The Tigers were rapid down the court and there to dispatch was Webb, moving the visitors’ 32-24 up at the half.
Despite Webb taking leave at the main break, Hocking picked up the slack as Rochester went well and truly on the march to make it a 21-goal buffer with one term left to play.
The Tigers’ coach didn’t need to crack the whip in the final exchange as her charges continued to cruise away with it, leaving the Rochester mentor pleased with many of her individual performers.
“It was a really consistent team effort, but the defensive pressure that we put on by our defenders Jamie Dingwall and Bridgette McCarty in the circle was fantastic,” Whipp said.
“And our shooters in Matilda McIntyre and Teal Hocking and obviously Tia as well, the three of them all combined. It’s hard to single out one person because it was such a team effort.
“We work on getting all the little things right and then hopefully everything else will come into play.
“And to take it quarter by quarter — play 15 minutes of solid, hard netball and then reset, and go again.”
In the split round’s other two games, Mooroopna barely lifted a finger as the Cats romped to a 58-14 demo of Benalla, while Shepparton scored a classy 61-37 victory against Mansfield.