The Tigers had the Bulldogs within reach throughout their encounter at Tatura Park, but just couldn’t seem to reel them in and take the lead.
After the first five minutes, in which Rochester led by a single goal on three occasions, the Bulldogs took the lead and never relinquished it, although the Tigers remained hot on their heels.
The first quarter ended with Tatura leading 15-12, but Rochy made a determined run early in the second to get within one.
The teams traded goals for most of the quarter but it was Tatura who finished the stronger, stretching the lead to seven at the main break.
It was again a stellar early quarter effort from Rochester to start the third, and the Tigers stormed back to within one over the course of the 15 minutes, before the Bulldogs regrouped late to take a two-point lead into the final term.
This time it was Tatura who made a better start to the period, creating some breathing room, but Rochester refused to go away.
In the end, the Bulldogs did just enough to hold on by four goals, 52-48.
Despite the result, the performance indicates what Rochester (5-10) might have been capable of had it had a full squad throughout the year, pushing one of the league’s better sides in fourth-placed Tatura (10-4-1).
Rochy has a week off as the GVL holds a split-round over the next two weeks.
The Tigers will return to Rochester Recreation Reserve on August 10 to face off with historic rival and defending premier Echuca.
A quirk of the fixture means Echuca will not be as well rested as Rochy, with the Murray Bombers playing in both weeks of the split round.
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