Cats snatch win in grand final rematch

But a sign of a champion team is how it responds when its back is against the wall, and LBU responded with a gutsy 6.17 (53) to 5.15 (45) win over Mounts.

It was a fast start that put the home team in control, as the Cats flew out to a 25-point lead by the time the first term came to an end.

In reply, Mounts kicked two goals to none towards the scoring end in the second term, pegging the lead back to just 11 points in what was developing into an enthralling contest, despite the conditions forcing a scrappy game.

It was a dour third term that saw LBU record the only major to lead by 15 points at the final break, and while Mount Pleasant outscored the reigning premier in the final quarter, it fell seven points short, handing the Cats an important victory.

LBU coach Stacy Fiske was extremely pleased with the outcome, as his side is managing to find form against the better sides in the competition.

“It’s always good to perform and be able to get a win when you’re playing against a top-three, top-four team,” he said.

“We're happy that our form has continued to grow over the last few weeks and we've got ourselves a bit of reward for effort, I suppose.

“I think we've been very competitive across the year against some of those top teams, we just haven't been able to finish the game off, so it was nice to walk away with the four points.”

Despite only kicking six goals for the match, the Cats recorded 23 scoring shots, which came off the back of repeat entries inside attacking 50, something Fiske said had been a major focus for the group of late.

“I think defensively we've allowed ourselves to have repeat entries inside 50,” he said.

“That was really hurting us against some of the better sides, their ability to slingshot out and get it out of the back half, and that might have happened once, maybe twice on the weekend, but it's something that isn't happening regularly which was going on in the first half.

“I think that was pretty positive in that aspect and if you're doing that as a group, defending well, that means the team is buying in to what we’re trying to do.”

Baxter Anderson was best-on-ground for LBU, with Fiske praising his pressure as a small forward, while also highlighting the efforts of two key defenders.

“Baxter's been fantastic up forward with his pressure and his ability to get to contest after contest. He's been really good over the last couple of weeks,” Fiske said.

“Our defenders were fantastic, it was a great battle between Fraser Monahan and (Ben) Weightman.

“I think those two have gone head-to-head over the course of the last couple of years, and Tommy Eade on Mitch Rovers was a good contest to watch too.”

LBU opens up a gap of one game to Leitchville-Gunbower in sixth on the ladder, while it is now just one game behind Mount Pleasant, who tumbled to fourth following the loss.

The Cats will have a week off with their second bye for the season next week.

HDNL

Lockington-Bamawm United have fallen short of toppling Mount Pleasant, going down 37-45 at home in round nine of the Heathcote District Netball League A-grade competition.

The Cats took it to the highly fancied Mounts side, and despite sitting second last on the ladder heading into the round, came within eight goals of what would have been a very unexpected upset.

LBU tumbles to last place on the ladder following the loss, due to percentage, having been overtaken by Leitchville-Gunbower, who remains level on one win, as does Huntly in seventh.