Mooroopna made to wait and reality checks handed out in Goulburn Valley League A-grade round five

At no early stage did it look to disappoint, with Tatura’s four-goal lead after three minutes entirely snuffed out after another six, leaving just a single score between the two at the first change.

The contest suddenly gave way after the first break, however, with some stellar offensive work from Ash Lancaster and Jacqui Ball pivotal in a barnstorming 10-out-of-11 stretch that put up a handy buffer.

As the two sides traded mini-streaks early in the third, it started to feel as if the unbeaten Cats would more or less keep Tatura at arm’s length through some largely insignificant momentum swings.

Two late ones from the home side made the deficit 10 at the last changeover. That 10 very soon became seven; seemingly in the blink of an eye, it was three.

Julia Clarke unleashed a whirlwind as Tatura closed in with pace, creating the heart-stopper the game seemed destined for in its infancy.

Mooroopna’s Dayna Williams, back in the fold after a long absence due to a knee reconstruction, produced a series of clutch intercepts in the defensive arc to help her side eventually maintain its perfect record, though only by a 43-41 margin.

Post-match, coach Di Hanslow lamented the late theatrics after a comfortable two quarters had created some breathing space.

“We knew today was going to be our toughest battle for the season so far,” Hanslow said.

“We came prepared, and while being tired and only winning by two isn’t ideal, there are things to learn from that as well.

“Each position has a role to play, and I feel we had a few who went away from their roles in the final term, but it’s a very good win.

“Our defenders did a brilliant job, and it’s given us plenty to learn from.

“Dayna got best on court and rightfully so; she’s just finding her feet now, but to cover the court how she did was great.”

There was a resounding fall to earth over at Deakin Reserve, meanwhile, when the other two 4-0 sides in Shepparton and Euroa locked horns.

Magpies goaler Olivia Morris continued her utterly dominant run this season with an early flurry that gave the visitors a double-digit quarter time lead, and it only worsened from there for the Bears.

A blow-for-blow second term served as a red herring in this game’s plotline, with a fully fledged second-half blitz from last year’s runners-up shellshocking the upstart Bears in a resounding 77-42 Euroa win.

Shepparton United missed an opportunity to maintain ground in chasing the top three after a 59-42 derby defeat away to Shepparton Swans.

A game Kyabram came ever so close to snapping its winless run to open 2024, falling just three short in a gallant 42-39 loss to Mansfield, with the Swans and Eagles both earning their second wins.

Seymour squared its ledger at 2-2 in comfortably accounting for bottom-ranked Benalla 68-41, while reigning premiers Echuca made an emphatic return to winning ways after two straight setbacks with a commanding 59-24 triumph over Rochester.