With victory against Rochester on Saturday, Echuca is one of three sides in Goulburn Valley League netball to have won all three of its games this season. Photos: Jordan Townrow
Echuca proved too strong for Rochester in its latest Goulburn Valley League netball fixture, the Murray Bombers cruising to a 25-goal win at Rochester Recreation Reserve.
Ashlea Hare finds a teammate in front of the Echuca bench.
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The round three meeting presented another winnable game for Echuca, which, having made a perfect start to its campaign, faced a Tigers outfit that had started the new season with a win and a loss.
Belinda Lees contributed 13 goals in the win for Echuca.
Both sides seemed evenly matched to begin, tied at 5-5 at one stage in the first quarter, before Echuca put its foot down, scoring nine of the last 10 goals in the period to lead by eight heading into the second.
“From both ends there were a few missed goals very, very early on, and then our mid-courters and attackers just got some confidence, they just started to get that confidence in each other, putting some balls in, and it just came together really well from there,” coach Bronwyn Slater said.
The Murray Bombers never looked back from that initial spurt and, though Rochy performed better with 11 goals in the second quarter, Echuca netted another 16 of its own to take a 30-17 lead into half-time.
Greta Pearson with her head on a swivel.
The Tigers started the second half well, scoring three of the first four goals, but Echuca replied by scoring eight of the next nine, the third quarter being its best on the day as the visitor extended its lead to 20 heading into the fourth.
Bridget Byrne with the ball under pressure from Phoenix Pointon.
Rochy once again produced 11 goals in what was a more competitive final period, though Echuca still increased its lead by finishing with a wet sail, scoring seven of the last nine goals to claim a 64-39 win.
Ashlea Hare with the chest pass.
Sheridan Townrow once again led all scorers in the game with 28, and Belinda Lees added 13, while young Rose Byrne shot the ball with 100 per cent accuracy, going 23 for 23 on goal attempts in just two quarters.
Slater also praised Lauren Jones for her defensive work against Rochy’s star goal shooter Tia Webb.
Lauren Jones restarts play from the baseline.
“There were some great passages of play in there, but we're not too excited yet,” Slater said.
“It was just a game we probably needed to pull together so we could see the potential of what we can be if we keep working at it.”
Belinda Lees shoots over the Jaime Dingwall contest.
This Saturday Echuca travels to take on a Kyabram side it should beat, with Slater particularly excited about a couple of headline fixtures that will follow it, as the Murray Bombers will soon test themselves against other contenders such as Mooroopna and Seymour.
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