Sport

Rochy finishes year down to finals-bound Bears

By Matthew Kappos

Aug 24, 2026

Rochester finished its season with a fighting defeat to Shepparton.

Rochester wrapped up its Goulburn Valley League netball season, falling away to Shepparton Bears in the final round.

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The Tigers kept pace in the opening minutes, but a defending premier Bears side, which needed to win to earn a finals place, managed to pull away throughout the game, eventually recording a 68-51 win.

Rochy was in the contest up to 9-7, but a five-goal Bears run opened the gap, and the lead was eight by quarter time.

The Tigers made a fightback in the second term, halting the Shepparton momentum and shaving two off the lead to go into the main break down 29-23.

But the Bears weren’t to be denied, surging again in the third to lead comfortably, and closing out the game in an even fourth quarter to finish 17-goal winners.

Rochester finishes its year in tenth place, with a record of 3-15, while the Bears go on to a blockbuster elimination final with Echuca after sneaking into sixth.

Euroa and Moooropna are the top two and will face a qualifying final, while Seymour and Mansfield battle in the other elimination final.