Sienna Lee kicked two goals in difficult conditions as Echuca toppled undefeated Shepparton United on Saturday afternoon.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
A wet weekend on the final regular season round has added additional intrigue to the Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls League, with several upsets shaking things up ahead of the impending finals series.
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In a feature Saturday afternoon game, following the senior men’s win over Benalla, Echuca’s women took to Victoria Park in a top-of-the-table clash with unbeaten Shepparton United.
Hendrika Kirchhofer and Simone Carkeek battle for the loose ball.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
In May, United won the teams’ first meeting 5.6 (36) to 3.0 (18), but whether helped by home ground advantage or the wet conditions, Echuca was able to turn the tables on the Demons at the weekend.
The first quarter had all the tension of a potential grand final preview, but Echuca was able to get its nose in front by two goals to one.
Kate Dixon gets it away ahead of the Ebony Grace pressure.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Both teams stalled in the second, neither able to find a major, and the Murray Bombers remained a goal up at the half.
Echuca dominated the game after the break and shut out the Demons’ attack, chipping in a couple more goals to seal the win in a low-scoring contest 4.4 (28) to 1.2 (8).
Lulu Slater clears it from the pack.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Sienna Lee kicked two of the Murray Bombers’ goals, while Olivia Dewar and Hendrika Kirchhofer also struck.
The win sees Echuca snatch the minor premiership from the United in the final week with superior percentage.
Tayla Sampson gets on the move for the Demons.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Both sides have one win over the other, each side’s only loss of the season, and will be heavy favourites to take part in the tiebreaker come grand final day.
Echuca is set to take on Nathalia in the semi-finals, while Shepparton United will face Rumbalara.
Girls
Stella Fraser spots a target for Moama. Photo: Supplied
There were also giant-killing performances in the girls league, with ladder leader Moama knocked down a peg by third-placed Shepparton United and Echuca United also defeated by midtable opposition.
The Mowers had more scoring shots than the opposing Demons, but couldn’t make them count as they went down 2.6 (18) to 3.4 (22) at Moama Recreation Reserve.
While United kicked a goal in three of four quarters, Moama didn’t find its first major until the final period.
While the Mowers retain top spot on the ladder, suffering their second loss of the season isn’t the ideal lead-in to the post-season.
It was a weekend for the underdogs as Echuca United was also defeated, downed at Barooga by the Hawks 3.4 (22) to 0.1 (1).
Mower Macey Boyd attracts plenty of attention from the Demons. Photo: Supplied
The weather played its part as the Eagles' attack was uncharacteristically quiet, registering only its second single-figure total of the season, the first also coming on a wet day at Moama at the start of July.
Barooga warmed into the game in the first quarter, but two goals in the second gave the Hawks a significant advantage, which they held on to until the final siren.
A presumed Moama and Echuca United grand final is now thrust into doubt, with both teams defeated by other finals sides heading into the semis.
The teams will switch oppositions for the semi-final round as Moama faces Barooga and Echuca United takes on Shepparton United.
