Sport
Seymour overturns first-quarter deficit to beat Shepparton Swans in GVL A-grade netball
Seymour has rolled into the split round bye sitting pretty inside the Goulburn Valley League top six.
The Lions produced a turnaround victory over Shepparton Swans at Kings Park on Saturday, flipping a five-goal first quarter deficit to see the visitors off 44-33.
Coach Ellie Fuhrmeister was largely pleased with how her side conducted itself in a game that loomed as a potential banana skin for the Lions.
“I saw Swans had a few good results recently and we’re on the up but I think they got the jump on us in that first term when they were up and about,” she said.
“It was just nice to reflect on our own game and know we can dig ourselves out of the hole.
“Swans didn’t give up and were all over us all 60 minutes, but we’ve been focusing a lot on ourselves as individuals and in our combinations. That’s paid off in such horrible conditions.”
A tight opening few minutes threatened to get away from Seymour as Swans’ goaler Natasha Atkinson-Brown worked her magic inside the attacking ring, shooting the travellers out to a 13-8 advantage at the opening break.
But Seymour soon stopped the rot.
Fuhrmeister and Ally Black began to work their magic up the other end as they combined for five unanswered goals to start the second term while Sarah Szczykulski and Ruby Martin tightened the clamp in defence.
The Lions restricted the Swans to four goals and took a narrow advantage into half-time but were able to build the buffer out to 32-23 with one quarter left.
From there, Seymour didn’t take its foot off the gas and cruised to what was a relatively comfortable victory when all was said and done, despite inclement conditions.
“It’s always tricky in the wet weather and a few skimmed over the top in both ends,” Fuhrmeister said.
“We’re always talking through different situations and it gives us confidence that we’re quite vocal on court, that makes us confident looking to the posts but having options in the circle is good.”
Seymour now sits in fifth on the GVL table and has a week off to plan for its next assignment.
The Lions will travel to Victoria Park to take on reigning premier Echuca on July 13, and Fuhrmeister is far from taking the task lightly.
“Echuca is always so strong and I think they belted us the only time we played last year, so once again it’s about focusing on us and what we can do,” she said.
“I think we’ll just have to come together and work hard to put some scoreboard pressure on, but they’ll be hard and very smart.”