TOOLEYBUC-Manangatang have moved another step closer to breaking their A Grade finals drought with a commanding eight-goal win over Swan Hill in a high scoring affair on Saturday.
While the Swans scored the first five goals of the match unanswered, it was the Saints who ended up victorious in the must-win match for both clubs.
The Saints find themselves a game clear in fifth position on the ladder following the 65-57 win, with games against Koondrook-Barham and Woorinen to come over the final two rounds.
The loss effectively ends Swan Hill’s finals campaign however, with the Swans now needing to beat Koondrook-Barham following this Saturday’s bye and rely on both Tooleybuc-Manangatang and Cohuna to lose both of their matches by margins which will help them bridge the gap in percentage.
In a match played in finals like conditions, it was the Saints who showed the greater composure, with Tooleybuc-Manangatang coach Mel Wait praising her young squad for their fight and effort after the match.
“It was good, we started slow but we just had to keep working hard,” Wait said.
“I kind of thought we always had the game in control, but I was really happy with our last quarter.
“Their goalers were so accurate yesterday and there was a bit of a patch in the second period where they went off and we just really struggled to get a rebound and to get it down our end and convert.
“There was a lot of toing and froing and it was pretty physical in the goal ring.
“Hayley Neuschafer in goal defence was really physical with Summer (Blachford) and it took her over half the game to get used to that.
“It was just a constant, consistent slog and while we knew it was going to come and it felt like we were always going to get there, it was still hard going.”
While Tooleybuc-Manangatang still need to win at least one of their last two matches in order to hold of a fast finishing Cohuna, the season now appears over for the Swans.
It was a disappointing end to the season for the perennial finalists, especially after such a positive start to Saturday’s match, according to Swan Hill coach Casey Frame.
“We were very disappointed with end result; it was ours to either win or lose,” Frame said.
“We had a great start and our effort and intensity was there, but we made crucial errors at certain points in the game and they capitalised.
“We just missed goals, threw the ball away and gave the ball away in controllable moments.
“Again, we had it, but we let the opposition take it away which has been the story of our season.”
Zoe Morris was again among Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s better players with the goal shooter scoring 32 goals alongside Blachford (33 goals).
Jayda Plant also played a crucial role in the midcourt for the Saints and completed several key intercepts throughout the afternoon.
Swan Hill on the other hand were well served by goal attack Kelly Bonney (29 goals), wing defence Lola Patterson and goal keeper Jaya Jenkins-Jaiswal.
FINAL WHISTLE
| SWAN HILL | 57 |
|---|---|
| TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG | 65 |
