MERBEIN kept their finals hopes alive with a one-goal victory over South Mildura at the Mildura Sporting Precinct courts.
In a keen battle between third-placed South and the visiting Magpies, who are sixth on the table, little separated the sides throughout a match played in finally pleasurable conditions.
That was borne out by a maximum two-point lead at any of the breaks. And while Merbein looked like snapping the game open in the third and final quarters with five-point advantages, the final scoreline of 40-39 was a fair reflection of a most competitive battle.
Magpie coach Breigh Hammet was more than a little relieved to snare the win and four valuable points against fellow finals hopefuls.
“It sounds really silly, but I think the (Merbein) players thought the season was over so they played with no pressure and just heart and soul,” Hammet said.
“The seven played all four quarters and they went at everything. I’m really proud of them. I had a heart attack at the end because it was only decided by one goal, but I’m really happy today.”
Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach Sally Moore was also impressed by her charges.
“We came back from five-goal margins in the final two quarters, so they have got the fight in them,” Moore said of a team that lost star defender Morna Naquto early in the game to what appeared to be a knee injury.
“This part of the season is really tough now, we are getting tired and don’t have the bye for a couple of weeks yet … but it happens in all sports, that’s just part of the cycle,” Moore, whose side remains in third, said.
Meanwhile, Merbein improved their record to 6-5 but are still on the outside looking in at the top four.
Best on court for the victors went to Zali McMonnies and Olivia Bowden while Sharne Lane and Raquel Ban were named the hosts’ top performers.
– Tym Glaser
