There was barely a dry eye in sight among Undera’s netball populace on Saturday when the final whistle sounded on the club’s A-grade clash against Longwood.
And for good reason.
Rachel Torney’s side had just pulled off the unthinkable, snapping a three-year winless drought meaning the resultant flood of emotions represented every single maroon-clad figure dotted around the court who had stuck fat through a heart-wrenching patch for the club.
They’d come close to doing it in earlier games this season.
Hell, they’d even won a quarter against reigning premier Tallygaroopna the week prior.
But this was special.
When the umpire’s lips pursed and blew time on the round three match, the scoreboard reading 65-20, you bet there was pride amongst these Lions.
“It was very emotional, it was a big day for the whole club netball-wise with all of the sides winning leading up to it, so no pressure on me,” Torney said with a laugh.
“There were so many tears, and especially from the supporters that have been there for a long time ― the ones who have worked hard in the off-season who don’t play or don’t have an official role, but they’re there helping.
“The people behind the scenes, they’re the ones who are doing the tough stuff and the girls themselves, they’ve really bonded in about three months’ worth of work.”
Torney described the win as months in the making, with 60 minutes of netball only the tip of the iceberg for what Undera achieved against the Redlegs.
“We’ve been up against it; we’ve had to go to league committee meetings and try and get exemptions to try and get players to drop down a couple of levels, because we just had no-one who would take the court,” she said.
“We worked really hard behind the scenes for about six months to get the structures right, to get new people in and create better roles.
“We’ve done that, and I think it’s starting to come to the fore to be honest.
“The girls were that pumped to take the court, there was no bringing them down.
“There was nothing that I was going to say or do that was going to change the vibe for them, they were on a high and were fantastic to be honest.”
The Lions’ palpable intent brought about a strong start, which was underpinned by an even better second-quarter effort.
With Mikaela Thomas pulling the strings in midcourt and Sam Cordy holding it down in defence, the pure belief brought on by those on the court and the sidelines made Undera an unstoppable force as the game went by.
As it just so happens, it’s that sort of lion-hearted conviction which makes Torney think Undera is only just getting started.
“If we can support each other and become a bit of a family, that’s what comes of it,” she said.
“You get the wins, and even in the losses the girls are backing each other up and that is just brilliant.”
In other games, Tallygaroopna, Stanhope, Girgarre, Nagambie, Dookie United and Shepparton East also picked up wins.