Rochester sits just two premiership points outside the top six of the Goulburn Valley League’s A-grade netball top six after an eighth win of the season against Benalla on Saturday.
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Playing at home, the Tigerettes, on the back of 16 first-quarter goals from Teal Hocking, exploded out of the blocks and led 35-18 by half-time before eventually winning the match by 20 goals, 56-36.
A strong first term had Linda Rasmussen channelling Woody Harrelson in “white men can’t jump’’ (a female version) with her rebounding and Ava Cottam was great in support at wing defence.
Cottam, Rasmussen and Bridgette Holt set the tone when they restricted Benalla to a pair of six-goal terms, with Eloise Cuttriss and Ella Roulston again switching between wing attack and centre during the afternoon.
They dominated the mid-court, while Hocking and Morgan Dingwall continued their strong partnership and are now a force to be reckoned with in the Goulburn Valley league.
Hocking finished the match with 40 goals after the scoring slowed slightly for Rochester in the second half and only one change was made for the entire match — Currtiss and Roulston’s change between wing and centre.
The task ahead for Rochester, to qualify for the finals, is a tough one.
They must make up either the two points and percentage on sixth-ranked Tatura, who they beat last weekend, or overtake fifth-ranked Shepparton.
That will be difficult considering this week’s assignment against top of the ladder Euroa and next week’s match with fourth-ranked Echuca.
If results go their way the final round match with Shepparton United may decide whether or not the Tigerettes are involved in the finals this year.
– A 10th win of the season for Rochester’s B-grade outfit was built on the back of 10 players being used in a 25-goal win against 10th-ranked Benalla.
Rochester is now sitting fourth on the ladder and, apart from a match with top team Echuca in a fortnight, is on track for 13 wins this season.
The Tigerettes won 58-33 and face seventh-ranked Euroa, then Echuca and finally second bottom United to finish the home and away rounds.
Charlotte Gould (15 goals) and Leila Palmer (13) started in goals, Rochester leading 38-16 on the back of defensive work from Ava Cottam and Jaime Dingwall.
Of those Dingwall and Palmer remained in their roles, but Gould was replaced by Sahra Brooks and Cottam by Annalese Oliver in the second half.
Palmer finished with 31 goals for the game and Brooks shot 12 goals to end the game.
Tess Ringin, Ella Roulston, Grace Ingram and Rachel Whipp all played through the mid-court as the team warmed up for the fast approaching finals.
– Rochester’s B-reserve side was hungry for a win after only one goal separated the teams last time around.
Ten different players were used in the match, including several juniors, flowing in and out of the team effortlessly in the afternoon as the team won 51-36.
Rochester sits fifth on the ladder, now eight points clear inside the final six.
The Tigerettes face only one side above them on the ladder, top team Echuca in two weeks, in the run to the finals.
It was a four-quarter performance that was led by Ella McPhee in goals and Hannah Egglestone at wing attack.
Anna Oliver was a lead on the court, offering encouragement and making her goaler work for every pass.
That resulted in Benalla being held to a pair of six goal quarters during the match.
Oliver played the entire game in defence, while McPhee shot 24 goals and Zali Hocking 27 goals in the victory.
Maddie Howard started in centre, before being replaced by Grace Ingram.
Grace Wachter played three quarters in defence, being Grace Moyle and Kristie Hedington had cameo roles in defence.
– Rochester’s Under-17 team secured its sixth win of the 2023 season with a 29-goal victory against Benalla and has a chance to finish the season strongly in the final three weeks of home and away competition.
This weekend it faces 11th-ranked Euroa before an appointment with Echuca (fifth) and, finally, seventh-ranked Shepparton United — directly above it on the ladder, but two games clear.
It was a different Under-17 team took the court this week due to injuries and girls being unavailable due to holidays.
The new faces did not impact the bottom line as Rochester won the match 46-17.
With no Under-15s match, Marli Cottam, Maddie Howard and Leah Toohill were able to make their debut in the older age group.
Cottam and Kaitlyn Joyce blended well in the goal ring as if they had played together all year.
By the end of the first quarter, Rochester had an 11-5 lead.
No changes were made in the second term when Maddie Howard was solid at wing defence, coming out for every centre pass and using her voice to communicate with the defenders in the ring.
The Tigerettes continued their dominance and led 22-10 at half-time, Leah Toohill coming onto the court in the third term and making an intercept within a minute.
At the other end, Charlize Weeks was strong at wing attack, holding her spot on the ring and chasing down loose balls.
It led to a 36-14 three-quarter-time lead and again no changes in the final term.
As always, Maddy Pearse and Grace Moyle played amazingly together in the defensive ring, contesting every loose ball.
Cottam shot 17 goals in the second half of the match as Rochester outscored its opposition 24-7.
She finished the match with 31 goals, with Joyce responsible for the remaining 15 goals.
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