Shepparton United's Laura Cole was influential through the centre for the Demons against Benalla.
Photo by
Liam Nash
A hot-stepping, high powered Shepparton United vaulted back into the Goulburn Valley League winners’ circle at the expense of Benalla on Saturday.
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A demonstrative Demons side held court for large parts of the round 14 encounter against Benalla at Deakin Reserve, meaning a pre-written script was not to be flipped as the home team secured a 46-33 victory for its first win in a month.
Benalla stole an early lead and managed to keep pace and parity for the first 10 minutes of the game.
However, Tamara Skinner began to show her guile underneath the ring as she received savvy feeds from Laura Cole and Shinea Sali, while the Saints’ defenders scrambled to plug the widening gaps.
Benalla's Chloe Elliott catches and turns toward the ring.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Shepparton United's Diaz Barzen seeks out a teammate within close range.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Benalla's Jacqueline Foster stretches out to block a United shot.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Shepparton United's Shinea Sali gets on the spin.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Benalla's Chloe Elliott tosses the ball over the top.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Shepparton United's Tamara Skinner was on fire under the ring against Benalla.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Benalla's Kate Symes builds out from the defensive circle.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Shepparton United's Olivia Kirby calms things down on the wing.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Benalla's Jo Toms winds up to swing a left handed pass in.
Photo by
Liam Nash
United began to tug away with a five-and-counting-goal lead and, at the other end, things were as safe as houses.
Olivia Kirby and Grace McInnenny had their fingerprints on everything in defence, starving the Saints’ attack with United commanding both ends of the court.
By half-time, the score read 25-15 in the host’s favour.
Benalla raced out to a hot start in the third quarter and dragged back some ground on United as Ella Sheehan began finding her range, though the momentum slowed as the Demons played smart, regrouped and ticked a few more through the net to keep eight goals afloat.
In the final term, Skinner carried on her unique, jumpy shooting style which worked a charm and the goals continued to flow – to which the Saints had not enough time to respond.
Further west down the Midland Hwy, Mooroopna suffered its first loss in what seems like an age.
While far from an underdog, Echuca pulled the rug from under the Cats and tore away to a 43-29 win, signalling Mooroopna’s most recent defeat in eight rounds.
It means Euroa has eight points’ worth of breathing room at the top after doing enough against Shepparton Swans, emerging with a 69-46 triumph on home court.
Tatura scored a crucial four points over Seymour, beating the Lions 43-34, while Mansfield notched its first win of the season after toppling Kyabram by 14 goals.
Finally, Shepparton had just enough in the tank to overpower Rochester, winning 62-60.
