Alternating between wins and losses each week across the first month of competition, the Lions faced an in-form Tatura side at Kings Park on Saturday, and the contest more than lived up to the occasion.
With a big crowd lining the court in support of Sarah’s Day, the annual Breast Cancer Network Australia fundraiser in honour of Sarah Locke, Seymour claimed a thrilling 49-47 victory to ensure it remained in touch with the top four through five rounds.
It was a relatively slow start to the game for the home side, which gave up a run of five unanswered goals midway through the opening term to see the Bulldogs lead by the same margin, although a late flurry pegged the deficit back to 11-13 at the first break.
While three of the first four goals in the second saw Seymour draw back level at 14 apiece, Tatura was again able to make a break with another run of five unanswered, as the Bulldogs continued to find answers whenever Seymour gained any momentum.
Slowly but surely the Lions worked back into the contest, getting within one goal as half-time beckoned, but the familiar pattern played out again as Tatura scored five of the last six to take a 26-22 lead into the main break and seemingly had the edge over the Lions.
However, Seymour emerged a different side after half-time and, with seven of the first nine goals to start the second half, levelled things at 29 apiece as the intensity continued to build.
For a time, the game continued with both sides going goal for goal, until finally Seymour managed to make a decisive break of its own, nailing four of the final five goals before three-quarter time to lead at a break for the first time all contest, ahead 36-33 with a quarter to play.
A hot start in the fourth term saw Seymour out to a four-goal advantage, but just as quickly as the Lions had built the lead, it evaporated, with Tatura fighting tooth and nail to erase the deficit and then build a buffer of its own.
The Bulldogs went up by three with five minutes remaining and were seemingly in the box seat to secure the win, but the wild momentum swings weren’t finished yet as Seymour surged once more, levelling the score at 46-46 after three straight goals.
Tatura took the lead at 47-46 with the next goal, but it was the last the visitors scored for the contest as the Lions stormed home with the final three goals to claim a pulsating 49-47 victory, and with it a crucial four points.
Coach Elle Nexhip was Seymour’s best in the win, dominating through the midcourt, where she was ably assisted by Sarah Thorpe, while Ally Black was lethal inside the circle, making the most of the opportunities that came her way.
The win keeps the Lions inside the top six at the end of round five and improves their record to 3-2, one win behind Echuca and Shepparton in third and fourth, respectively.
It also keeps Seymour one win ahead of its next opponent in sixth-placed Shepparton Swans, with the two sides set to meet at Princess Park this Saturday in a blockbuster contest.
It was a good day all-round for Seymour’s netballers, with the B-grade side comfortably accounting for the Bulldogs in a 57-35 rout led by Shona Gesler, while both Sophie and Chloe Locke were among the best in the B-reserve contest as Seymour triumphed 45-36.
The junior grades didn’t fare as well, with the under-17 Lions falling 36-42 in a close contest, with Ivy Watson named Seymour’s best, while the under-15 side went down 22-45, with Mia Brown best on for the Lions.
