Seymour’s Sophie Rutherford intercepts a Benalla pass. Photos: Wayne Herring
A brilliant second half performance against Benalla has ensured Seymour remains on track for a finals berth in the Goulburn Valley League A-grade netball competition.
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On their home court at Kings Park, the Lions turned a two-goal half-time lead into a 24-goal full-time win, prevailing 61-37 over the Saints.
Seymour got off to a hot start, with coach Ellie Fuhrmeister putting through 11 of her side’s 16 opening term goals to lead the Saints by five at the first break.
Eleisha Saunders was among the best for Seymour at the weekend, providing plenty of pressure through the midcourt.
But Benalla’s attacking end fired back in the second term, with Chloe Elliott and Ella Sheehan combining for 11 goals, while the defensive end restricted Seymour to just eight goals, cutting the margin to two at half-time.
However, it was a clinical Lions showing thereafter, with the home side blowing the contest wide open in a brutal third term.
Seymour put through 19 goals to six in a dominant showing that sewed up the contest, leading 43-28 at the final break.
Ruby Martin continued her fine season at the weekend, shooting 26 goals and proving a real handful for the Benalla defence.
It was more of the same in the last term, with another 18 goals to nine only furthering the advantage the Lions held and condemning Benalla to loss number 16 for the year.
The victory represents a much-needed return to the winner’s circle for Seymour, having lost to finals contenders Echuca, Shepparton and Tatura in consecutive weeks.
It could also prove decisive in the make-up of the top six, with the Lions now sitting in the sixth and final spot that guarantees September action, a game ahead of Shepparton Swans with just two games to play and crucially with a far superior percentage.
The run home favours the Lions too, however it is not yet a sure thing, with games against Kyabram (11th, 1-15) and Echuca (second, 13-3-1) to come, however if Seymour was to win next week against the Bombers, it would make things awfully difficult for the Swans.
Ruby Martin contests a rebound against two Benalla players.
Games against Shepparton Bears (fifth, 11-5) and Mooroopna (first, 14-2) await the Swans, and if the Lions win just one of their remaining games, it would mean the Swans must win both games, and also overcome a percentage deficit of 9.33.
The current standings put Seymour in the box seat, but nothing is guaranteed in sport.
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