Lakers happy to walk away with two points as Swans rivalry grows

A tied game in sport always triggers a full gamut of emotions for those involved.

At C.E. Brown Reserve last Saturday, the overriding feelings for Lake Wendouree coach Meg Porter and her players were those of relief and delight, after the Lakers overcame a seven-goal half-time deficit to notch up a second BFNL netball draw this season against big improvers Ballarat.

While the Lakers had their chances to clinch it in a see-sawing final term, Porter said the 51–51 outcome felt more like a win from their side of things.

“This one felt better than last time as we were actually seven goals down,” she said.

“It was a bit of a role reversal, last time we were up (in a 42–42 draw at Alfredton).

“I thought we did well to get it back to even at three-quarter-time and then we were two (goals) up with about five minutes to play and then they were two up with just over a minute to go.

“I thought we were done, but credit to the girls for sneaking back level.

“It was a pretty hectic last quarter.

“As much as I would have liked the four points, as they’d be pretty handy right now, I’m pretty happy to come away with two all things considering.

“Ballarat has a bloody good team. Their defence end is strong and physical; not in a bad way, it’s a physical game now.

“Our shooters (Addi Funcke and Ebony Porter) had to work damn hard.”

A resilient second-half performance was the perfect response to a lackluster second quarter by the Lakers.

“We were flat as, and it wasn’t just one or two players, it was the whole team,” Porter conceded.

“But there was a lot of fight from then on.

“They dug deep.”

The Lakers benefited from a pair of accomplished shooting performances, with Funcke scoring 28 goals at 88 per cent and Porter chiming in with 23 at 83 per cent, while key positional moves at half-time proved influential, with centre Sadie Cheesman moving to wing defence and Rosie Todd taking over at centre.

In the continued absence of defensive duo Kate Drew and Remi Hooper, under-19s player Eve Snowdon stepped in for her first A-grade game at goal keeper and acquitted herself well against quality opposition.

Two points has the dangerous Lakers in third spot, two points clear of Sunbury and a fast-emerging Sebastopol, which scored respective wins over Melton (64–34) and Redan (44–41) on the weekend.

Those two points could yet prove crucial, with Porter conceding the run home for the Lakers was anything but easy.

“We’ve got to play Darley, Sebas, North, Bacchus Marsh … all tough games against teams who’ll play finals and the one (the Cobras) trying to get in,” she said.

“(Eighth-placed) East Point also will be tough; they are playing some nice netball at the moment and are proving a handful for sides.

“But every week is tough in this league, it really is.”

The Lakers and Swans may yet get the opportunity to claim bragging rights in their exciting and developing rivalry if they hold their current positions on the ladder, with third playing sixth in the first week of finals.

That scenario has not escaped the attention of either club.

“It’s a fair rivalry now, but to come away with a draw, we’re pretty happy after our second quarter,” Porter said.

“Obviously we’re aiming to finish third, that way if we win the first week, we get the second chance.

“(Lakers v Swans in finals) would certainly create interest, but there’s still a lot to play out.”

The Lakers will be bolstered for this weekend’s clash against East Point by Drew’s return to the lineup, with Hooper on track to be back the following week against Darley.