SWAN Hill withstood a fast-finishing Tyntynder to claim a one-goal win in their annual King’s Birthday weekend rivalry match on Saturday.
After trailing by nine goals mid-way through the final quarter and with the rain beginning to tumble, the Bulldogs managed to do the unthinkable and level the scores with just two minutes remaining.
Led by talented goal shooter Violet Corrie, Tyntynder peeled off nine unanswered goals in a five minute period, eight of which were scored by Corrie, to fight their way back into the contest.
After seeing their healthy margin evaporate and with the game on the line, the Swans rallied over the dying stages, with back-to-back goals to Kelly Bonney and Ava Seymour pushing them back out to a two-goal lead.
Corrie wasn’t finished however, scoring her 30th and final goal of the match in the final minute, before the final buzzer sounded to signal a 37-36 win to Swan Hill.
It was the Swans fourth win of the season, with the result also seeing last year’s grand finalists climb back into the Central Murray top five at the expense of the Cohuna Kangas, with the two clubs set to clash this Saturday at the Alan Garden Reserve.
Despite an anxious finish, Swan Hill coach Casey Frame was pleased with her team’s all-round performance after the match.
“We were happy with the win, although I was very nervous in the final five minutes,” Frame said.
“We had a bit of a slow start and weren’t assertive enough in the first quarter I felt, but our second quarter was solid and we played more like our style which enabled us to get out to a strong lead.
“I was very stressed in the last quarter when the rain started and the momentum swung their (Tyntynder) way.
“It was a tough win, but I was really happy our girls found a way to hold on and get the job done.”
Frame was also impressed with the effort of young wing attack Miela Roberts, who stepped up and fed Swans goalies Kelly Bonney (13 goals) and Ava Seymour (24 goals).
Tyntynder co-coach Bridget Dedini was equally impressed with the performance of Corrie, with her accuracy made all the more impressive given the windy conditions.
“I was particularly proud of the way Violet (Corrie) stepped up in the last quarter, she was really strong and shot well and Bridgette King down the other end read the ball beautifully and provided so many opportunities for us with her turn overs,” Dedini said.
“We were really proud of the way we dug ourselves out of a hole and came back at them.
“It was a great game, we were unlucky in the end but that’s the way it goes.”
Tyntynder will play a rejuvenated Lake Boga this weekend, with both teams needing to win in order to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
CENTRAL MURRAY NETBALL RESULTS
ROUND 10
A GRADE
Swan Hill – 37
Tyntynder – 36
A RESERVE
Swan Hill – 31
Tyntynder – 40
B GRADE
Swan Hill – 45
Tyntynder – 34
B RESERVE
Swan Hill – 28
Tyntynder – 24
17 & UNDER
Swan Hill – 29
Tyntynder – 39
15 & UNDER
Swan Hill – 29
Tyntynder – 29
13 & UNDER
Swan Hill – 15
Tyntynder – 26
