Echuca defensive masterclass bombs minor premier Seymour in B-grade Goulburn Valley League netball classic

The Murray Bombers appeared to burst out the blocks with a clear plan to intensely corral the Lions, but their energy led to giving away free passes and a collapsing structure capitalised upon by Seymour, which opened up a head start of 7-0.

However, a stabilising goal for Echuca set the wheels in motion to chase down Seymour’s rapid beginning.

The Murray Bombers knew the pressure would pay off – it was just a matter of when.

“I think the slow start was nerve-racking, but we knew we could do it and we just kept pushing and (we’re) so excited,” Echuca co-coach Greta Pearson said.

“Nerves kicked in at that start, I think we were all pretty heightened and nervous, so that was part of it as well.

“We steadied and were able to fight our way back into it.”

Before long, the seven-goal advantage had shrunk to two as Echuca made strong passes end-to-end and its defensive pair stood tall with intercepts and well-contested defence on shots on goal.

However, Seymour gathered itself and forged a strong finish to the term, holding a four-goal lead at the first break.

But it would be the last time Seymour felt in control of the game’s tempo.

Echuca started on the front foot in the second term, within one after a fast start from the huddle.

As a blustery breeze swept across the court, either side’s defence continued to be the difference as goal scorers attempted to adapt to the conditions and, at half-time Seymour had maintained its lead, but only by the slimmest of margins, 23-22.

In the third term, Echuca took its moment by the scruff of the neck.

The powerhouse club levelled the scores for the first time since the opening whistle, before a long shot by goal attack Bianca Willis swished in the net and handed the Murray Bombers their first lead all game.

As the quarter wore on play was back and forth with multiple lead changes, but the Lions were tiring from Echuca’s relentless pressure.

Soon enough, Echuca had found an edge.

A lead of four goals entering the final change, with a sea of green riding every defensive intercept, stopped goal and score netted down the western end of the court, the momentum was fully in Echuca’s favour.

In the fourth term, it was as gritty a performance of any this season at B-grade level.

The defensive pressure was at a game-high and Seymour continued to crumble as the stakes grew.

The minor premiers withstood and capitalised on such pressure for all of six minutes.

It had seemed early on the Lions’ pure talent would reign supreme.

But in grand finals, more than talent is required to be victorious, and that was evident by the nature of Echuca’s game plan.

A crowd at full voice chanted “Bomber time” until the final whistle sounded, and as the green faithful roared the Murray Bomber boilover was complete, winning 38-44.

In a game dictated by defence, goal keeper Jesie Milligan was an unsurprising best-on-court winner.

“She just had her hands on everything, came out for intercepts, moved her feet and just did really well,” co-coach Jacquie James said.

“The pressure from the other defenders as well, bringing it all the way down and the constant pressure down the court allowed her to get up and get a lot of those, so I think it was a real team effort.”

Echuca spectactularly rose from fifth to claim the flag, but Pearson reflected there was always belief in the playing group.

“We knew we were a top three side all season, we just dropped some games that maybe we shouldn’t have,” Pearson said.

“We had people in and out, so that caused a bit of disruption, so I think that impacted where we finished.

“We knew if we could get to the granny and get into those finals we could do what we needed to do.”