From that point, however, the youthful spirit of the Bombers was on full display as Maaia Roberts moved into the goaling circle and played her best game of the season.
Kyabram trailed by 10 goals at quarter-time, but Roberts was switched into goals at quarter-time and the mid-court trio of Abby Waasdorp, Isla Carver and Sharni Clark switched bibs to form a much stronger supply to star goaler Natasha Dodos.
After quarter-time Kyabram won the game by four goals, 26-22, but the slow start meant the final result went in favour of Tatura 38-32.
It does point to a strong improvement in the Kyabram output, particularly in defence, where Monique Williams and Jemma Hall combined to restrict the Tatura goalers after the first change.
Kyabram will fancy its chances this weekend against Shepparton Swans, before confronting another top four team (Shepparton) a week later.
Dodos finished the game with 18 goals after she started in goals with Micaela Herbert, who had already played a full B-grade game where she shot 31 goals and almost inspired her team to victory.
– It was almost a carbon copy start to the B-grade contest, Tatura leading by nine at quarter-time before a Kyabram resurgence.
The teams couldn’t be split in the next two quarters, both scoring 22 goals, meaning the three-quarter time margin remained almost at double figures.
In the last term Micaela Herbert shot 13 goals, fed consistently by the unselfish Molly Carver, and Kyabram outscored its opponent by six.
However, the final scoreline went in favour of Tatura — 45-21.
Madison Thwaites played her best game of the season, working with Ali Hall and Courtney Mason to limit the Tatura opportunities late in the game.
Under-17 defender Stella Trezise came on in the final term and had an immediate influence at goalkeeper.
Trezise worked in tandem with Thwaites and Mason to almost bring off a terrific comeback.
Herbert’s 31-goal game came after Molly Carver had started in centre and then shot nine goals in the final three quarters.
The Bombers face the seventh and third ranked teams in the coming fortnight, before facing winless and bottom team Benalla in round 10.
– Despite stopping to a walk in the final term, the B-reserve team scored its fourth win of the seven-week-old season and sits sixth on the ladder.
A win this week against eighth ranked Shepparton Swans will set it up for a crack at third ranked Shepparton and an opportunity to move further up the ladder.
Sharni Clark’s three quarter contribution on a wing was enough to have her recognised among the best players on the court as the team led by two at quarter-time and by five at the half before a third quarter explosion.
Elli Kiker shot 12 of her 35 goals in the third term as Kyabram took a 14-goal lead into the final term with a 14-5 win.
Despite being outscored 9-15 in the final term by Tatura, the Bombers won the match 41-36.
Taleera De Pasquale continued her wonderful season in defence, working with Tearna Filbey, while Rachael McCormack was a constant conduit to goal.
– Eight goals from Rose Cunningham in the opening quarter of the under-17 game set Kyabram on the way to its fourth win of the season and a spot insde the top six.
The team now faces the second and third ranked teams in successive weeks, a tough draw that will require a repeat of Saturday’s opening term to ensure its competitiveness.
Kyabram led by eight at quarter-time, then Cunningham (30 goals) and Jemae Miller (18 goals) swung into action to lead a 48-36 victory.
It was, however, the combination of captain Trezise and Grace Burnett in the defensive goal circle that inspired the win — in tandem with the athletic Ava Pell in the centre.
Pell was the stand-out mid-court player in the game as 11th Tatura responded to a slow start by outscoring its opponent in the second term.
After half-time Kyabram won the contest by seven goals as eight of its nine-member squad took to the court during the match.
– Fifth ranked Tatura took three quarters to shake a determined Kyabram under-15 team on Saturday.
Ella Hooper shot all of her team’s seven goals in the opening term, but the Bombers trailed by two. She shot another nine in the second term as the Bulldogs built the margin to four.
Another 10 goals from the goal shooter brought the margin back to only two goals at the final break before a Tatura surge earned it an eventual seven-goal win — 41-34.
It was the defensive team of Jenna Quattrocchi and Mia Kilpatrick who earned the highest praise from officials, while Rachael Polvere’s mid-court play almost earned recognition.
Kyabram is sitting ninth on the ladder, but has the chance to improve when it faces eighth ranked Shepparton Swans on Saturday.
The following weekend is a match against top team Shepparton.
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