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Echuca 58 d
Shepparton United 50
The final round of the Goulburn Valley League netball season had one late surprise with third-placed Echuca toppling minor premier Shepparton on Saturday.
Shepparton United fell 58-50 at Deakin Reserve, with its only two losses of the regular season coming against the reigning premier.
But with a change to their midcourt with Zara Pearson and Charlotte Groves, the Murray Bombers outscored the Demons 31-22 in the second and third quarters.
The away side ended up winning the final quarter to record a confidence boosting win on the eve of finals and their eighth straight success.
Echuca coach Gina Pearson was proud of her side's performance in a finals-like game.
"We've had two pretty tough games in a row now," she said.
"But that is exactly what we want heading into finals and I thought it was a great team effort from the girls."
Pearson said given both sides' impressive attacking stocks, if the two sides met again in finals, it would come down to which defence would be able to gain ascendancy.
"For two top sides to have such a high-scoring game, it just shows the potency of each side's attacking end," she said.
"I do think it will come down to who can control the other side's attack."
Echuca's defence - led by Bridget Byrne - gained the upper hand and did its best to control the prowess of United's star-studded attack.
Byrne rebounded from a poor start as United attacking duo Jessie Barnes and Tamara Skinner lifted their side to an early lead.
The Echuca defender had young goal attack Claudia Mawson and damaging midcourter Holly Long for company in the best players.
"Bridget played a very good game in defence," Pearson said.
"She was beaten in the first term, but to her credit, she kept at it and adjusted her game and ended up defending beautifully, she was very important for us."
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