Mooroopna's Ash Lancaster nailed 84 goals during the Cats’ big win over Mansfield.
Photo by
Liam Nash
Mooroopna didn’t just win on Saturday - the Cats stormed through Mansfield like a hurricane, handing out the Goulburn Valley League’s biggest thrashing of the season with a ruthless 94-26 victory.
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The fourth-ranked Cats came into the round 12 clash at home with form, favouritism and finals aspirations gusting through their sails.
Rest assured, Di Hanslow’s charges played like it, too.
Mooroopna raced ahead to a double digit lead after a cagey first few minutes with goaler Ash Lancaster proving an immovable force, tractor beaming balls into her grasp and dispatching with consummate control.
Mansfield's Isabelle Edwards looks to work the ball out of defence.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Mooroopna's Dayna Williams was a force at the back for the Cats.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Mansfield's Jaspa Robinson attempts to block a shot.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Mooroopna's Rhani Hendy takes a moment to pick out her pass.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Mansfield's Jamie Davis lines up a shot under the ring.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Mooroopna's Shelby Britten cracks a laugh mid-game.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Mansfield's Michelle Kieu whips a pass away.
Photo by
Liam Nash
An error-ridden Eagles struggled to break the shackles, missing passes which Asha Gray and Rhani Hendy gladly accepted on the turnover.
By quarter-time, it was already 21-6. By half-time, it was 44-12.
But a headline in the second quarter that may have flown under the radar was the return of Cats’ star defender Caitlin McLachlan, who made a small cameo after missing the first two thirds of the season after having a baby.
One headline that didn’t get missed was Lancaster’s shooting frenzy.
The astute goal shooter put on a staggering clinic, slotting 84 goals solo during the most dominant individual performance seen across the league this year, bettering the previous best of Euroa’s Olivia Morris by 10.
Lancaster’s timing, hold and finishing were untouchable — but this was more than a one-woman show.
Mooroopna’s midcourt hum was electric, driven by Gray’s composed control and elite feeding, while down back, Dayna Williams marshalled with steel, keeping Mansfield’s attacking forays short-lived.
For the Eagles, Alex Ball and Jessica Dolling battled valiantly in the loss.
Around the courts, Shepparton danced past a potential landmine to keep its perfect record intact, beating Tatura 48-38 to have its unbeaten streak roll out to 11.
Joining the Bears at the top was Euroa, which saw off a spirited Shepparton United challenge to prevail 65-59, while Shepparton Swans held post inside the top six with a 65-23 victory over Benalla.
In other games, Seymour knocked over Kyabram 62-31, while Echuca bested Rochester by 24 goals.
