Echuca lifted when it mattered most to snatch a one-goal victory from Seymour on Saturday.
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The Murray Bombers remain undefeated to begin the defence of their Goulburn Valley League netball premiership after the tight win, which came about thanks partly to yet another best-on-court performance from wing attack Holly Long.
Goalers Casey Frame and Claudia Mawson as well as defenders Tamara Nicholls and Bridget Byrne also stood tall in the triumph, while the injection of Lucy Higgins into the contest in the final term helped swing the momentum in Echuca’s favour after the home side trailed by four goals at the last break.
‘‘The game was pretty tight all the way through, we started in front, but seemed to let them back into the game pretty quickly,’’ Echuca coach Gina Pearson said.
‘‘I was really happy with the way the game finished, we got in front with about 40 seconds to go.
‘‘I was pretty pleased with how the whole of the court went, there were good signs in all areas.
‘‘Our goalers are a new combo this year, one younger and one more experienced, and it’s the same in the defensive end as well, so it’s good to see those connections building.
‘‘We’ve got plenty of options in the centre of the court as well which is great.
‘‘We put Lucy on in the last quarter at wing defence to vary it up a bit, she plays (the position) a bit differently to Annabel (Johnson) and she was able to get a couple of intercepts.’’
The Lions were three goals up at quarter-time and just two goals ahead at the main break before pushing their lead out to four at the final change, but could not hold on for a stirring win on the road, despite great efforts from the likes of Meg Grbac, Ellie O’Sullivan and Nakita Singe.
‘‘I think Seymour are a good side, definitely in the top four, so to get a win over them early in the season is a real confidence-booster,’’ Pearson said.
‘‘We only shot at around 60 per cent, but Seymour is up there with Ky (Kyabram) as having the best defenders in the circle.
‘‘(In saying that), shooting under pressure and when fatigued is something we do need to work on.’’
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