Shepparton United marked champion Bree Hanslow’s 350th game with a statement win against Shepparton in Saturday’s Goulburn Valley League A-grade netball blockbuster.
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But it was by no means easy for the Demons, who were a single goal down at three-quarter-time, before producing one of their best quarters of the season to storm to victory.
They clicked in every possible way to blow the Bears apart with an 18-6 final quarter, sealing a 49-38 result that kept them flying high on top of the ladder.
United coach Tania Orchard said fighting the game out for its entirety had been totally necessary to get the win.
‘‘The Bears thew everything at us, Tracey (Bears coach Tracey Brereton) had them on fire, it was really tough going into the circle,’’ she said.
‘‘We moved Jess (Barnes) to goal attack at half-time and we were on fire after that, but they threw everything at us, they’re very strong and physical and aggressive at the ball.
‘‘My girls just kept plugging away and in the last quarter we blasted away.’’
Orchard said she had not made any specific changes to the side for the final quarter, with the lop-sided result the product of everything coming together.
‘‘Everything came together, we just made our regular changes in the midcourt, Kara Blizzard was in wing defence and Bree Hanslow had a blinder for her 350th, she was in centre for the second half,’’ she said.
‘‘I think we overran them, our fitness was great and we ran the legs off them in the last.
‘‘We took some good chances with our passing and our turnover conversion was a lot better than it had been, it was probably only at 50 per cent in the first half, but that was down to the Bears’ toughness.’’
The win moved the Demons to 12-1-1 for the season, still six points clear of second-placed Seymour, while the Bears are sixth at 9-5.
Olivia Kirby was among United’s best along with Tamara Skinner, but it was the milestone performance of Hanslow that stood out.
‘‘She’s had many committee positions and playing positions, she’s a workhorse and is in her second year as our under-17 coach, she’s doing an excellent job with that. She’s just an absolute dream to work with,’’ Orchard said.
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