Seymour will have to do it the long way if it is to take out the Goulburn Valley League A-grade crown in 2025, having fallen at the first qualification hurdle at the weekend.

In a huge clash between the two form teams in the competition, Seymour met the unbeaten Shepparton at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday in the second semi-final, with a spot in the decider on the line.

An almighty tussle ensued, but the Lions, who became the first side to take points off the Bears all year having secured a draw in round 18, fell victim to a fourth-quarter mauling, going down 32-42 despite being well and truly in contention for much of the contest.

Just as they did when they comfortably accounted for Shepparton Swans in last week’s elimination final, it was the Lions that shot out to an early lead, making the first run of five unanswered goals in the first term to open up a gap of the same margin courtesy of some brilliant defensive pressure from Ruby Martin and Sarah Szczykulski.

Although the Bears responded, it was Seymour who led 10-9 at the first break.

It was goal-for-goal to start the second quarter as Ally Black and Ellie Fuhrmeister continued their accurate start, with the evenly matched sides unable to find a way to separate themselves at 15-15, until a Bears run to end the term saw the Lions lose the lead, trailing 18-21 at the main interval.

Seymour managed to hit the lead 23-22 early in the third term, however the tight, tense netball that followed saw scoring slow and Shepparton again found consecutive goals late to leave Seymour trailing by two heading into three-quarter time.

It looked as though it was going to go right down to the wire yet again, but in the fourth term, it was the Bears who prevailed, stringing together 13 of the first 16 goals to build a game-high 12-goal lead, which the Lions brought back to 10, but were unable to get any closer, as Shepparton secured the first available grand final spot.

All is not lost as the Lions will face Euroa on Saturday at Deakin Reserve in the preliminary final with recent history on their side, having defeated the Magpies by 16 goals the last time they played in round 15.

Seymour and Euroa will also face off in the B-grade preliminary final in a repeat of the qualifying final, with Seymour having beaten Shepparton Swans by 14 goals in the first semi-final at Mooroopna on Saturday.

It was a clinical showing from the Lions, who finished atop the ladder but fell in the first week of the finals by a goal, and will be out for redemption when the two sides meet at Deakin Reserve on Saturday.

In B-reserve, the Lions went down 36-45 against Euroa in the second semi-final on Sunday at Euroa’s Memorial Oval, missing out on direct qualification to the decider.

They will face Rochester on Saturday at Deakin Reserve for a spot in the big dance.

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Sunday, 5th February 2023

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