Taking on Mansfield at Rochester Recreation Reserve, the Tigers were challenged by the Eagles throughout, but managed to secure victory in the final minutes, 39-35.
Rochy found itself in trouble early as Mansfield got the jump on the Tigers to race to an 11-3 lead.
The ball consistently found its way into Alexandra Ball’s hands as she drained the first 12 scores for the Eagles.
Payton Tiller, on her A-grade debut, partnered with Ava Nihill in Rochester’s attacking circle, and the two put through four of the last six of the quarter to get back within six at the first break.
Rochy continued the momentum at the start of the second, stringing together several runs of consecutive scores.
Four straight to finish the term saw the Tigers with a one-goal advantage at half-time.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle with neither side able to accumulate much of an advantage, and it ended with the teams tied at 30-all, setting up a grandstand final term.
The first five minutes of the fourth belonged to Mansfield and the Eagles could see the finish line with a tenuous two-goal lead, but Rochester still had one run left in it.
A clinical all-around performance saw Mansfield shut out on the attacking end, while Rochy added seven straight scores, rushing to an unassailable advantage and taking the game.
Nihill and Tiller shared the scoring duties well, with Nihill putting through 23 scores and Tiller 16.
The win moves Rochy into a mid-table group of four 2-2 teams, the Tigers currently in eighth on percentage.
Next week’s game sees the Tigers travel to Shepparton Swans, who sit below them at 1-3.
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