However, it was not to be, as the continued effects of the side’s injury crisis caught up with Rochy in the final term.
The Tigers made a bright start against the Demons, leading 13-11 at quarter-time.
United took the lead early in the second term, but Rochester showed resilience, eventually restoring its two-goal margin by half-time.
It was another tense battle throughout the third, with both sides making runs and taking the lead, but the quarter eventually finished with the game in the balance at 35-all.
Unfortunately, with three quarters played, Rochy was forced to withdraw first-choice goaler Teal Hocking, who is on a minutes restriction after returning from injury, and remaining starter Tia Webb is still absent. This meant the Tigers had no regular shooters on the court.
This turned out to be the defining factor as although Rochy was still creating opportunities in the mid-court, faltering goal-shooting left them unable to capitalise, and Shepparton United ran away with the game 50-39.
“I think that (taking Hocking off) just drops the confidence for everybody, and I suppose just without her, our shooting accuracy isn’t good enough, to be honest with you,” Rochester co-coach Linda Rasmussen said.
“We would have had the first five plays and intercepts (of the fourth), but we couldn’t get a goal, so when that happens, it’s pretty tough.”
With VNL duties with the Bendigo Strikers taking precedence, it’s unclear when the Tigers will have access to Hocking for four quarters.
Meanwhile, Webb is on her way back into the side, with a decision to be made week by week on her return.
Unfortunately, injuries to both starting goalers have defined Rochester’s season, one in which they were hopeful of continuing momentum built from 2023 and making a first finals appearance in two decades.
“We just probably don’t have the depth when Teal goes off, with Tia being injured, for another goaler to come through,” Rasmussen said.
“We put Jamie Dingwall into goals, and (it was) fantastic from her playing goal defence and then to play goals, so she did a really good job, but it's pretty tough on her.
“We’re pretty grateful that we can do that, but it's also hard to have that depth in A-grade at GV standard.”
The Tigers (2-7) will look to return to winning ways against Mansfield (2-7) next weekend when they make the trip to Mansfield Recreation Reserve.
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