GVNL | Echuca tested by Tigerettes in thriller

By Josh Huntly

Jun 7, 2022

Fire away: Echuca’s Bianca Willis gets her shot away under heavy pressure. Photo: Steve Huntley. Photo by Steve Huntley

Echuca and Rochester contested a Goulburn Valley Netball League thriller on Sunday as milestone Murray Bomber Greta Pearson helped her side to victory.

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Trailing by just three goals at the final break, the Tigerettes, who have two wins to their name, went step-for-step with Echuca for most of a dour contest at Victoria Park.

However, without experienced duo Belinda Lees and coach Steph Vick, Echuca kept its composure in the final quarter to snatch a 42-36 win, their seventh of the season.

Greta Pearson made the shift from wing attack into centre in the absence of Vick, and in her 100th game for Echuca, played a crucial role in the six-goal victory, Echuca’s second over Rochester this season.

“Greta is a very consistent player; she’s incredibly patient, very accurate with her passing and she knows what she needs to do to maximise her game,” Vick said.

“We really needed that on court because it looked very difficult to convert due to the conditions.”

Last season’s Sandra Cox Medallist has been one of Echuca’s best players through the middle third, with several best-on-court’s to her name.

Raising the bat: Echuca netballer Greta Pearson saluted game number 100 for the Murray Bombers, playing a starring role against Rochester. Photo: Steve Huntley. Photo by Steve Huntley

“She adores the club and a lot of people absolutely adore her and respect her,” Vick said.

“She’s having a phenomenal year in A-grade and I think it’s awesome that she can celebrate her 100th game.

“She’s in the top three most weeks, and I think she’s doing a brilliant job.”

Alongside Pearson, Bridget Byrne and Jacqueline James were strong contributors in torrid conditions, with a slippery court forcing errors on both sides.

“The court was pretty damp most of the game,” Vick said.

"We managed to get in front by a bit, and then the margin would narrow again.“

Rochester managed to win the second quarter and tie the third to stay in the contest, with Bridgette Holt, Charlee Roulston and Maddie Egglestone pushing Echuca to the end.

“The game was a bit up and and down, and it didn’t help that rain kept spitting down,” Vick said.

“People were dropping balls everywhere, slipping over the court; it made it hard for the flow of the game.

“(Rochester) are pretty good at adjusting to play, so we had to do the same thing.”

Echuca’s victory capped off a clean sweep on the netball courts, with all Murray Bomber teams tasting victory over the Tigerettes.

In A-grade, the ladder is beginning to take shape.

Echuca remain in second on the GVNL ladder closing in on the halfway point of the 2022 season, tied with Seymour with a 7-1 win-loss.

Echuca play third-placed Mooroopna in round nine in what is set to be an enthralling encounter.

Shepparton United, Euroa, and Shepparton Bears round out the top six, with Shepparton Swans (seventh) and Benalla (eighth) still well in the hunt for finals with 10 games to play.

Rochester sits two games adrift in tenth, with a match-up against ladder leaders Seymour this Saturday.