Romsey footballers were challenged but found a way to fight back against Woodend-Hesket in an away game at the weekend.
The Redbacks ended its first quarter with a six-point lead after kicking five goals and two behinds, while Woodened added four goals and two behinds.
Woodend put the pressure on for all three quarters, taking a seven-point lead by the end of the second quarter, which kept Romsey on its toes.
The score was 55-55 by the end of the third quarter, giving both sides the opportunity to show good signs of football to secure the win.
Romsey returned with a fighting spirit in the last quarter, making it all count for a 57-64 win.
Romsey coach Justin Sherman said the side outplayed Woodend in the last quarter.
“I thought the way the guys ended in the last quarter, the way they stood up … and it probably felt like we outplayed them in the last quarter, so I was really pleased to get the win,” he said.
“We weren’t at our best at the weekend, but you got to find a way to win sometimes, and playing away – against no matter who it is – when you play away, I think you’ve just got to find a way and we were a bit below par at the weekend.
“But the reality is they’re the games that we would have lost last year, so we’re finding a way to win them now when we’re challenged and that was the pleasing part for me.”
Romsey will host Macedon in round eight of the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL), a match Sherman said Romsey needed to bring its best.
“It’s going to be about getting back to playing our best footy, having a look at some areas that we can improve on from the weekend, and try to put that into practice over four quarters against Macedon,” he said.
In other RDFNL action, Lancefield played a tough game in round seven.
Entering the game, the first quarter was looking statistically rough for the Tigers meanwhile Macedon kept kicking several goals and behinds.
The second quarter was not a huge game for neither side, but Macedon was still the leading team for the rest of the match.
The final buzzer was victory for Macedon and a tough loss for Lancefield with a 97-47 win.
Lancefield will host Wallan in round eight who will return from a bye.
Netball
Romsey A grade netballers were undermanned in a match against Woodend-Hesket on Saturday.
The side had fill-ins with four players from Romsey’s B grade and under 19 to take the reins in round seven of the RDFNL Senior Netball Competition.
Romsey coach Lena Way said the side knew they entered the game with a hard task ahead of them.
“I suppose the positives were that in the second quarter and the fourth quarter, we sort of held our own and the second quarter we only lost by two and the last quarter we lost by one,” she said.
“Obviously playing with completely new combinations every quarter, it was always going to be a challenging game, and we knew that, and we had to accept that we were without several key players.
“Emma Grech really stepped up in goals, she delivered on what she was asked to do which was to really drive and take the front space, which she did quite well. Also, Emily Miles was thrown into defence, and I thought she did a really good job.”
Woodend played to its full strength until the final score was 41-73.
Romsey will host Macedon in round eight of the competition.
Elsewhere, Lancefield was announced undefeated with a 17-point loss against Macedon.
It seemed the Tigers were unable to throw off Macedon’s pressure, but the side saw scoring efforts from Lancefield’s Darcee Ellard and Tarnee Hammond.
